{"id":122621,"date":"2023-12-18T12:59:04","date_gmt":"2023-12-18T12:59:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uklevitrasupport.com\/?p=122621"},"modified":"2023-12-18T12:59:04","modified_gmt":"2023-12-18T12:59:04","slug":"ex-british-consul-and-partner-kidnapped-in-ecuador-by-masked-men","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uklevitrasupport.com\/world-news\/ex-british-consul-and-partner-kidnapped-in-ecuador-by-masked-men\/","title":{"rendered":"Ex-British Consul and partner kidnapped in Ecuador by masked men"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Fears were growing last night for a former British honorary consul kidnapped from his home in Ecuador.<\/p>\n

Wealthy businessman Colin Armstrong, 78, was snatched along with his Colombian partner by up to 15 masked men reportedly disguised as police officers.<\/p>\n

The couple were driven away in Mr Armstrong\u2019s black BMW which was later found abandoned around 10 miles away.<\/p>\n

It comes amid a sharp rise in violent crimes fuelled by drug trafficking gangs.<\/p>\n

There were no reports of\u00a0a ransom having been\u00a0demanded.<\/p>\n

Mr Armstrong, who headed the British Consulate in the port city of Guayaquil, was allegedly snatched in the early hours of Saturday morning.<\/p>\n

A bomb threat linked to the kidnapping was later reported nearby.<\/p>\n

The Foreign and Development Office has confirmed it is in contact with Ecuadorian authorities following the disappearance of a British man, but did not confirm his identity.<\/p>\n

Mr Armstrong owns the 500-acre Tupgill Park estate in North Yorkshire, which was his childhood\u00a0home.<\/p>\n

It 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.<\/p>\n

Mr Armstrong owns Agripac, a large agricultural supply company, in Ecuador.<\/p>\n

He works there alongside son Nick, who took over the consul role from his father in 2016 and is also a director of the company that runs Ripon Racecourse.<\/p>\n

Mr Armstrong was awarded an OBE and CMG by the late Queen in 2011.<\/p>\n