Kidnapped British businessman rescued in Ecuador

Colin Armstrong was Britain's former honorary consul in Guayaquil and had been abducted on Saturday

Police in Ecuador rescued a prominent British businessman on Wednesday morning, four days after he was kidnapped, authorities said.

Colin Armstrong, who was also Britain’s former honorary consul in the industrial city of Guayaquil, was abducted on Saturday.

He was released and was now safe, General César Zapata, Commander General of the Police, wrote on X. Nine people had been apprehended in the operation, he added, without going into further detail.

“We will not allow impunity. Police actions continue,” Interior Minister Monica Palencia added on the social media platform.

Armstrong was taken from his home in the town of Baba in los Rios province, Ecuavisa and other local media outlets reported.

Kidnapping for ransom has become increasingly common in Ecuador amid rising crime largely attributed to drug trafficking gangs.

Britain’s ambassador in Ecuador, Chris Campbell, thanked the police for the rescue.

“We are delighted that Colin Armstrong OBE, our former honorary consul in Guayaquil, has been safely released,” Campbell wrote on X.

— Reuters

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