THE daughter of a British millionaire abducted by mobsters in Ecuador has made a desperate plea for him to be released.
Colin Armstrong, 78, is understood to have been snatched in the early hours of Saturday from his estate by gangsters disguised as police.
His son Nick Armstrong has flown out to help track down his father who has not been seen or heard from since his kidnapping in Baba, Ecuador.
Colin’s daughter Diana Armstrong-Bruns said: "This is a critical time.
"We’ve been told not to say anything to anyone.
"We just want my father back."
read more on colin armstrong
Brit millionaire's lover quizzed by cops after he was snatched by gang
Brit businessman 'kidnapped from Ecuador home after criminals stormed estate'
When asked about her brother's dash to Ecuador, the California-based estate agent told the Mail: "I really can’t say anything else.
"We’ve been told not to speak to anyone."
Police are investigating the disappearance of Armstrong – the UK's Honorary Consul in second largest city Guayaqui, which is plagued by spiralling gang violence.
Armstrong's glam younger lover Katherine Paola Santos is reportedly being quizzed by cops after being released by the kidnappers.
Most read in The Sun
CLOSE CALL
Shocking moment car flips over & ploughs into path of mum pushing child in pram
MUM’S PAIN
Ruth Langsford breaks down in tears as she admits having her ‘heart ripped out’
GO WITH DIGNITY
TV legend Esther Rantzen, 83, may end life at Dignitas after cancer battle
PETE’S SAKE
Pete Wicks breaks silence on ‘bedding I’m A Celebrity wives’ after boozy nights
The pair were allegedly snatched from Rancho Rodeo Grande by 15 armed gangsters disguised by police and whisked off in a black BMW, which was later found abandoned by the roadside.
Do YOU know what happened? Contact us at: [email protected] or [email protected]
Colin's son, Nick, is believed to have an extensive network of contacts inside Ecuador and will try and use them to locate and secure the release of his ageing father.
Kidnapping for ransom has become increasingly common in Ecuador amid rising crime largely attributed to drug trafficking gangs.
A video said to be circulating on social media shows the aftermath of the raid with signs of a forced entry, along with traces of blood and ransacked rooms.
A woman filming inside takes close-up shots of broken plates on the floor and a man who appeared to be holding a bandage to his head.
She then walks into one of the bedrooms where blood covers the bed before saying: “This is where they hit him. My God what is this.”
The Foreign Office said they were in contact with authorities in the South American nation following the disappearance of a British man.
They did not confirm his identity or the location of the potential crime.
Armstrong is the founder of a large firm in Ecuador called Agripac that produces, distributes and sells agricultural and industrial supplies.
He is also the owner of Tupgill Park Estate in North Yorkshire, which has been in the family for 45 years.
His sons Nick and Leo Morris help to run the sprawling 500-acre family pad that welcomes 150,000 visitors a year.
Read more on The Sun
TV legend Esther Rantzen, 83, may end life at Dignitas after cancer battle
Supermarket giant slashes 1L Baileys to under £10 – and it's not Tesco
It features a famous labyrinth of tunnels, chambers and follies known as Forbidden Corner, which claims to be "the strangest place in the world".
The 78-year-old was awarded an OBE and CMG for services to the Royal Family in 2011.
Source: Read Full Article
-
Putin and Xi plot ‘alternative’ to West in cloak and dagger summit
-
Mum screamed 'help my baby is trapped' after son, 12, was crushed to death by garage wall that collapsed 'in seconds' | The Sun
-
A German county just elected its first far-right candidate since the Nazi era. Locals are worried
-
‘She didn’t stand a chance’ says devastated grandad of Brit girl, 11, shot dead
-
Horror as two boys are badly hurt by fireworks while playing in park