- The Los Tiguerones gang is suspected to be behind the kidnapping of Colin Armstrong
- The feared criminal gang is linked to a Mexican cartel that promotes cannibalism
A feared crime gang believed to be behind the kidnapping of a British millionaire is allied with a violent Mexican cartel that forces new recruits to eat human hearts.
The brutal Los Tiguerones gang, whose members identify with tiger tattoos and wear berets, was considered the main suspect in the kidnapping of 78-year-old Colin Armstrong before he was rescued in Ecuador today.
Officials are said to have zeroed in on the group because they allegedly kidnapped the British businessman and former diplomat after he refused to pay them a monthly protection fee.
A well-informed source quoted in the Daily Telegraph said: “This is currently the most likely reason for the kidnapping.”
Mr Armstrong was kidnapped from his villa by 15 gunmen on Saturday morning along with his glamorous girlfriend Katherine Paola Santos and seen bundled into the back of a car.
During his ordeal, footage emerged of Miss Santos apparently showing bomb disposal officers removing an “explosives-filled vest” that her captors had allegedly forced her to wear.
On Wednesday, Cesar Augusto Zapata Correa, Ecuador's police chief, tweeted that Mr. Armstrong (pictured) was found near Manabi, not far from Los Rios, where he was kidnapped. The brutal Los Tiguerones gang has been linked to members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (pictured). Last year it emerged that the CJNG gang was forcing new members into cannibalism and began sharing videos of gang members feasting on the hearts of their enemies. Colin Armstrong, 78, and his partner Katherine Paola Santos are pictured together in Jamaica
She reportedly said the vest would explode if a ransom was not paid and was questioned by investigators yesterday about her abduction.
On Wednesday, Cesar Augusto Zapata Correa, Ecuador's police chief, tweeted that Mr. Armstrong had been found on a road near Manabi, not far from Los Rios, and had been kidnapped.
Police have confirmed that nine suspects have been arrested so far, but have not officially said whether they belong to Los Tiguerones.
The shadowy gang was a small support unit of Los Choneros, one of the South American country's oldest organized crime groups, when it was first reported in 2019.
Four years later, the organization, which had just 900 members in its early days, has grown from its birthplace in Ecuador's northern port city to a leading player nationally and in neighboring Peru.
Los Choneros were allied with El Chapo Guzman's Sinaloa Cartel and Los Tiguerones is known to be linked to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).
The cartel is a Mexican organized crime syndicate known for its aggressive use of extreme violence.
Last year it emerged that the CJNG gang was forcing new members into cannibalism and began sharing videos of gang members feasting on the hearts of their enemies.
At the time, shocking public aggression was reportedly used to threaten rival groups and demonstrate dominance.
The brutal Los Tiguerones gang has been linked to members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (pictured). The brutal Los Tiguerones gang has been linked to members of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (pictured). Colin Armstrong, 78, and his partner Katherine Paola Santos are pictured together
In September this year, Los Tiguerones was identified as the leading extortion gang in Guayaquil, the closest major city to the town of Baba, near the ranch from which Mr. Armstrong, along with his partner Katherine, had kidnapped Paola Santos.
Los Tiguerones was blamed earlier this year for 36 percent of all extortions in Ecuador's Zone 8, which included Guayaquil and nearby Samborondon, where Ms. Santos' release was said to have taken place on Saturday.
The glamorous Colombian was released after she was reportedly sent to Mr Armstrong's son's home with an explosive vest which she said would explode if a ransom was not paid.
Earlier this year it emerged that Los Tiguerones had also moved beyond Ecuador into Peru and was operating in the northern part of the country's capital, Lima.
Criminals involved in a drug war with the gang were blamed for a bomb explosion last August in Guayaquil's Cristo del Consuelo neighborhood that killed five people and injured 17 others, although initial reports suggested Los Tiguerones were behind it.
In recent years, Ecuador has become a popular destination for criminal organizations in Colombia and Peru, which smuggle the Class A drug into the country before shipping it abroad.
The violent struggle for control of the lucrative cocaine trade around Los Tiguerones has transformed Ecuador, until a few years ago one of the quietest countries in Latin America.
Police chief Alberto Santamaria said: “Los Tiguerones tattoo a tiger with a beret and stars that represent their hierarchy in this organization.”
A well-informed source said: “Before entering the prison, prisoners identify themselves with tattoos so that they are not put in a side wing because they know that if they do they will die.”
It happens when the police rescued Mr. Armstrong from his kidnappers. Officials released a picture showing him wearing a baseball cap, slightly blurred in accordance with local law, flanked by two police officers. He appeared fit and well.
In a statement to Web, family friend Leo Morris said: “We can confirm that Mr Colin Armstrong has been successfully released and is currently being questioned by the police and will then return to his family in Ecuador.”
“The entire British family, staff and friends are delighted with the outcome and are looking forward to a happier Christmas.”
“We have no further news at this time.”
Mr Armstrong's son Nick Armstrong, who runs the family estate in North Yorkshire, had flown to Ecuador to help with the hunt.
The father and 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.
Mr Armstrong's daughter, Diana Armstrong-Bruns, a California-based real estate agent, had told Web earlier this week after his abduction: “This is a critical time, we've been told not to say anything to anyone.” “We just want mine Father back.”
The wealthy businessman was kidnapped from his ranch called Rancho Rodeo Grande by up to 15 masked men reportedly disguised as police officers before being driven away in their black BMW, which was later found abandoned on the side of the road.
On Saturday, Mr Armstrong's glamorous girlfriend was also kidnapped. But 24 hours later, she was reportedly seen in a taxi wearing a bomb vest at his son Nick's home.
The police were alerted and video footage has now emerged that appears to show Ms. Santos having her explosive vest removed by a bomb disposal expert at a fenced-in private property in Samborondon, near Guayaquil.
Ms Santos was questioned by investigators yesterday about her abduction, her apparent release and whether she was forced by Mr Armstrong's captors to wear the bomb vest to demand a ransom from his family.
The couple appear in this picture together on a safari vacation before the reported kidnapping. Mr Armstrong's daughter Diana Armstrong-Bruns (pictured), a California-based real estate agent, had told Web earlier this week after his abduction: “This is a critical time, we have been told not to say anything to anyone. “We just want my dad back.” His son Nick Armstrong (right), who runs the family estate in North Yorkshire, had flown to Ecuador to help with the hunt
Meanwhile, chilling footage posted online showed the kidnappers leaving a bloodstained trail after searching Mr. Armstrong's remote ranch in Los Rios province.
Mr Armstrong headed the British consulate in the Ecuadorian port city of Guayaquil and was honored by the late Queen for his services to his country.
A video reportedly taken inside the property known as Rancho Rodeo Grande shows the aftermath of the attack.
A woman filming at the ranch took close-up shots of broken plates on the floor and a man holding his head.
She then went into one of the bedrooms where there was blood on the bed sheets and on the floor.
As she focused on the stained sheets, she is said to have said, “This is where they beat him. 'My God, what is that!'
The honorary consul's car, a black BMW, which was allegedly used to drive away the kidnap victims, was reportedly found abandoned on the road between the town of Baba and the nearby town of Salitre.
Local police initially managed to activate satellite tracking of the BMW, which showed it heading south toward the city of Ecuador, but lost track of it.
According to local reports, British intelligence was involved in the hunt for Colin.
The Foreign Office previously said: “We are in contact with the Ecuadorian authorities following the disappearance of a British man and are supporting his family.”
Mr Armstrong owns the 500-acre Tupgill Park Estate in North Yorkshire, which was his childhood home.
The property now welcomes more than 150,000 visitors each year to an attraction called “Forgotten Corner,” which was originally built as a private craze.
Mr Armstrong – who is believed to have previously been married to an Ecuadorian woman – has a long connection to the South American country where he owns Agripac, a major agricultural supply company he founded in 1972.
Pictures on TikTok show wealthy businessman Colin Armstrong, 78, and his partner Katherine Paola Santos enjoying a jet-setting lifestyle before their abduction on Saturday. Mr. Armstrong headed the British consulate in the Ecuadorian port city of Guayaquil and was honored by the late queen for his services to his country
He works there with his son Nick, who took over the role of honorary consul in the city of Guayaquil from his father in 2016 and is also a director of the company that runs Ripon Racecourse in North Yorkshire.
His adopted son Leo Morris helps run a restaurant on the family estate in Yorkshire.
In recent years, Ecuador – located between the world's top cocaine producers Colombia and Peru – has become a hub for foreign and domestic drug cartels blamed for a series of massacres, kidnappings and extortions.
Gangs now control the prisons and violence on the streets has increased. Since 2018, the nationwide murder rate has more than quadrupled, rising from six to 26 per 100,000 residents.
As a major port city, Guayaquil has become a hub for cartels exporting drugs to the United States and Europe.
President Daniel Noboa, a native of Guayaquil who took office in late November, has vowed to crack down on drug traffickers.
His election was followed by a violent campaign in which eight politicians, including a mayor, were killed.