Ecuadorian authorities have said that they suspect the abduction of Colin Armstrong, the owner of the Forbidden Corner visitor attraction, was driven by financial motives.

The former UK honorary consul in Guayaquil and owner of the Tupgill Park Estate near Leyburn in the Yorkshire Dales was abducted from his ranch by armed individuals in Los Ríos on December 16. The 78-year-old was forcibly driven away in his black BMW, which was later discovered abandoned, as detailed in a police report obtained by The Guardian. According to authorities, the kidnappers demanded a substantial ransom for his release.

On Wednesday, December 20,  the commander of the National Police, General Cesar Zapata, announced that Armstrong had been found and freed the previous night by police agents in the coastal province of Manabi, approximately 234 kilometres southwest of Quito. General Zapata shared an image on X (formerly Twitter) showing Armstrong standing between two police officers dressed in a police baseball cap, navy sweater, and dark track pants.

Details regarding Mr. Armstrong’s rescue have not been disclosed by authorities, as the case is still under investigation. Nine individuals, including eight Ecuadorians and one foreigner, have been apprehended in connection to the incident.

A Colombian woman, believed to be Armstrong’s partner, was released hours following the abduction. She was left in an abandoned area with alleged explosive devices attached to her body, which were later discovered to be fake.

Following his rescue, a spokesperson for the Tupgill Park Estate said Armstrong’s family and friends, along with the staff at the estate, were delighted to hear the news.

“All of the UK family, staff and friends are delighted with the outcome and look forward to a happier Christmas,” the spokesperson said.

The UK ambassador in Ecuador, Chris Campbell, also extended his gratitude to the police for Armstrong’s safe return.

“We are delighted that Colin Armstrong OBE, our former honorary consul in Guayaquil, has been safely released,” Campbell said. “Our thanks to the National Police of Ecuador for all their efforts to achieve Colin’s release. Thank you.”

Rising crime in Ecuador

Ecuador has experienced a rise in violence in recent years, leading to incidents such as murders, robberies and kidnappings for ransom.

The rising violence is attributed to the increase of local gangs aligning with drug cartels, which have infiltrated coastal cities. These cartels, from Mexico and Colombia, control a significant part of the drug trade, shipping substantial amounts of cocaine from neighbouring countries like Colombia and Peru to various global destinations.

The National Police recorded 3,568 violent deaths in the initial six months of this year, a stark increase compared to the 2,042 incidents reported during the same period in 2022. In the previous year, the country witnessed 4,600 violent deaths, marking a record high and doubling the total from 2021.

Meanwhile, data from Statista revealed that Ecuador recorded 802 kidnapping cases in 2021, ranking as the fourth-highest number within Latin America and the Caribbean region.

“No one is safe from the insecurity in the country,” said Anthony Garcia, a Guayaquil resident. “We are at the hands of drug trafficking, of evil in its entirety.”

Staying safe while travelling abroad

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