Glamorous girlfriend of abducted British millionaire, 78, is quizzed by cops after she was rescued from kidnappers in Ecuador – as UK intelligence aid hunt for the businessman who is still held captive
The glamorous partner of kidnapped British millionaire Colin Armstrong is questioned by detectives after being rescued in a sting operation. Authorities in Ecuador have been monitoring this, say unconfirmed local reports.
The Colombian-born beauty, locally named Katherine Paola Santos, was kidnapped from his ranch home on Saturday along with 78-year-old former honorary consul Armstrong.
Cesar Zapata, appointed by former President Guillermo Lasso earlier this year as general commander of the country's national police, has reportedly taken personal charge of the high-level investigation, along with a specialized anti-kidnapping and extortion unit called UNASE.
British intelligence services were today expected to assist Ecuadorian police in the hunt for Armstrong and his captors as fears continued to grow for his safety.
The businessman was a former honorary consul of Great Britain in the city of Guayaquil until his son Nick took over in 2016.
Colin Armstrong, 78, and partner Katherine Paola Santos are pictured together in Jamaica
Mr Armstrong headed the British Consulate in the Ecuadorian port of Guayaquil and was honored by the late Queen for his services to his country
As well as founding and owning a major agricultural supply business in the South American country, he and his son are directors of the 500-acre Tupgill Park Estate near Leyburn in North Yorkshire, which has been the family home for more than 45 years.
Ecuador's National Police has so far made only one official comment on the kidnapping, which took place around 2:45 a.m. local time on Saturday at the ranch of British businessman Rancho Rodeo Grande near the town of Baba in Los Rios province, two hours' drive north of Guayaquil.
In a tweet on Saturday, the force said: “Following an apparent criminal act against a businessman in the early hours of this morning in Los Rios, specialized police units are carrying out surgical and investigative work on site.”
Mr. Colin, as he was affectionately known by the ranch staff, was said to have been kidnapped in an operation involving more than fifteen gangsters and forcibly bundled into a black BMW that he owned jointly with his partner and later recovered from the scene was found abandoned.
No official comment has been made on video footage that emerged on social media claiming the woman, identified as Katherine Paola Santos, had an explosive vest removed by police experts on Saturday afternoon at a property in a private gated estate in Samborondon, near Guayaquil . belong to a relative of Mr. Armstrong.
In this photo, the couple appears together on a safari vacation before their reported kidnapping
The city north of Guayaquil is the same place where former MP Ricardo Vanegas' office is located.
Last night it was reported that Nick Armstrong, who helps run the family estate in North Yorkshire, had flown to Ecuador to help police locate his father.
Colin's daughter Diana Armstrong-Bruns, a real estate agent based in California, told MailOnline: 'This is a critical time, we have been told not to say anything to anyone. We just want my dad back.”
Mr Armstrong, who is believed to have previously been married to an Ecuadorian woman, has a long relationship with the South American country. In 1972 he founded Agripac.
His adopted son Leo Morris helps run a restaurant on the family's Yorkshire estate.
The estate now welcomes more than 150,000 visitors a year to an attraction known as the Forgotten Corner, which was originally built as a private folly.
Mr Armstrong was awarded an OBE and a CMG by the late Queen in 2011.
Colin Armstrong, 78, and partner Katherine Paola Santos are pictured together
Colin's daughter Diana Armstrong-Bruns, a real estate agent based in California, (pictured) told MailOnline: 'This is a critical time, we have been told not to say anything to anyone. We just want my dad back.”
Shortly after the kidnapping took place, images of the aftermath of the kidnapping were posted online.
A woman believed to be a staff member filming inside the ranch took close-up photos of broken plates on the floor and of a man who appeared to be holding a bandage around his head.
She then walked into one of the bedrooms where there was blood above the bed and said, focusing on the stained sheets, “This is where they hit him.” My God, what is this!!!'
Photos on TikTok show wealthy businessman Colin Armstrong, 78, and partner Katherine Paola Santos enjoying a jet-set lifestyle ahead of their kidnapping on Saturday
The unidentified woman appeared to be referring to the man she had previously filmed as he sat on the stairs and nursed a head wound.
The British businessman and his companion enjoyed a jet-set lifestyle together prior to their kidnapping.
The footage, which was posted to TikTok as a montage by a local news organization, showed them on board a cruise ship and under the Hollywood sign in Los Angeles.
There are also images of the smiling couple on horseback and posing in front of the Egyptian pyramids.
There have been no reports of ransom demands yet.