A British businessman, Colin Armstrong, and a Colombian woman, Katherine Paola Santos, were kidnapped from Armstrong’s home in Baba, Ecuador early on Saturday. Armstrong is also the head of the British Consulate in the city of Guayaquil.
The kidnappers are unknown, and they are believed to have transported Armstrong from his ranch estate in his own black BMW. The vehicle was later found abandoned on a road between Baba and the neighbouring town of Salitre.
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The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has confirmed that it is in contact with Ecuadorean authorities following the disappearance of a British national. However, the identity of the victim and the exact location of the crime have not yet been confirmed.
Armstrong is the founder of Agripac, a large firm that produces, distributes, and sells agricultural and industrial supplies. He is also the owner of the Tupgill Park Estate in Yorkshire and received an OBE and CMG in 2011 for services to the British Monarchy.
Ecuador has seen an increase in kidnapping for ransom in recent years, amidst a rising tide in narcotrafficking. Against this backdrop, specialist police units are currently carrying out operative and investigative work on the ground following the apparent criminal act against Armstrong.
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