British millionaire and partner spring free from kidnapper's grip in Ecuador
11:18 AM EST, December 21, 2023
Colin Armstrong, 78, chairman of the Ecuador-based agricultural company Agripac, was kidnapped along with his partner Katherine Paola Santos on December 16. The men, disguising as police officers, forced themselves onto Armstrong's property and took the pair.
The duo were loaded into the millionaire's BMW, which was subsequently tracked down by the police in an operation dubbed "Libertad 122". During the investigation into the abduction, up to 30 homes were searched.
The Ecuadorean police chief, Cesar Augusto Zapata Correa, verified in connection with Armstrong's case that nine people have been arrested. They are unquestionably the men responsible — they failed to dispose of pieces of police attire used during the attack.
The police discovered five grenades, six firearms of varying lengths, 1500 rounds of ammunition, 30 detonators, nine phones, and two vehicles used by the kidnappers among the suspects' possessions. During the operation, two packages containing around 4.4 pounds of drugs, which are currently being analyzed, were found.
Photos released by the police present various objects deposited on the ground, including four handguns, a rifle, a shotgun, boxes of ammunition, police vests, radios and packaged substances.
British millionaire kidnapped in Ecuador found; kidnappers arrested
According to a report from Sky News, Paola Santos, who was abducted alongside the businessman and is a Colombian citizen, was found before her partner. The criminals sent her to collect the ransom. She took a taxi to the residence of Armstrong's adult son.
Santos was outfitted with explosives, a tactic designed to encourage her to return with the money. However, she made the courageous decision to notify the police. A bomb disposal unit successfully deactivated the potentially deadly bomb vest she was wearing.
Armstrong amassed his wealth through an agricultural company, which he established in 1972. He manages this company alongside his son. He is also the owner of Tupgill Park Estate, a vast 500-acre property in Yorkshire, England.
Serving as the Honorary Consul of Great Britain in Ecuador since 2016, the 78-year-old Armstrong was awarded The Order of St Michael and St George OBE and Companions in 2011 for his services to the British monarchy.
