Millionaire abducted by 15 men disguised as cops found in Ecuador

A British millionaire has been found by police after he was abducted from his home in Ecuador.

Colin Armstrong's home, a ranch in the province of Los Rios, was raided on December 16, with him and his partner, Katherine Paola Santos, being taken hostage by a group of 15 men posing as police, according to local reports.

The UK's Foreign and Development Office confirmed that it was in contact with the Ecuadorian police in light of the 78-year-old's disappearance.

The Ecuadorian police also said on X that 'police units are carrying out operative and investigative work on the ground'.

Footage showing the supposed aftermath, which was shared by local media outlets, showed blood on a bed and a broken door frame.

According to a police report, the alleged kidnappers had used Armstrong's black BMW to drive off, which was later found abandoned.

Authorities followed the car driving south of the property to Guayaquil, where the businessman was a former UK honorary consul, and Armstrong, who is the president of Ecuadorian agriculture firm Agripac, was later found 118 miles from the vehicle's last known location.

Tupgill Park Estate.

Along with a blurred picture of Armstrong with two police officers, General Commander of the National Police of Ecuador, César Augusto Zapata Correa, tweeted: "On the road to #Manabí, our units RELEASED citizen Collin A., kidnapped days before in #LosRíos. At the moment he is safe and healthy."

The BBC reported that Armstrong's spokesperson, Leo Morris, had similarly confirmed that he was with police and the Ecuadorian authorities.

Commander Correa also said that nine people had been arrested in connection to Armstrong's apparent kidnapping.

The arrests are said to have taken place after police raided 30 homes, New York Post reports.

During the raid, the authorities seized five grenades, six long and short firearms, 1,500 ammunition, 30 detonators, and nine phones.

They also seized two vehicles and two kilos of 'substances' that are currently being analyzed.

Policía Ecuador/X

As well as owning a large company in the country, Armstrong also owns the Tupgill Park estate in Yorkshire, England.

His grandfather originally bought it in 1904 and Armstrong now employs 50 people to help maintain the grounds.

According to Sky News, the estate gets 150,000 visitors each year.

Armstrong was also awarded an OBE and CMG by the late Queen Elizabeth II for services to the British Monarchy in 2011.

Police are yet to give any further updates on the investigation.