A Belgian-Moroccan national who was kidnapped and held for ransom in Ecuador had apparently travelled to the county to meet an online lover, Het Laatste Nieuws reports.
As previously reported, Ecuadorian police freed a Belgian being held by armed gunmen in a hotel room in the coastal city of Manta. His kidnappers demanded a ransom of $500,000 (around €457,000) for his release. Three kidnappers were arrested.
According to the victim's family, the Belgian national had travelled to the country to meet with a woman whom he had met over social media. Ecuadorian police say that the Belgian and Ecuadorian woman had conversed over WhatsApp. Falling madly in love with the woman, the Belgian decided to travel to Manta in northern Ecuador.
On 28 July, the couple had planned to meet at Barbasquillo beach in Manta. It is not clear exactly how the date went, but the man and woman later left the beach and were headed elsewhere. At this moment, the 43-year-old victim was stopped by several armed men, who escorted him to a rented flat. It is uncertain what role the woman had in the kidnapping.
The Belgian was held captive for four days. The kidnappers directly contacted the victim's family to demand the ransom for his release – a sum that his family could not pay. The family finally agreed on a sum of $50,000 (€45,700) to keep the 43-year-old Belgian alive.
Credit: Policía de Ecuador
Despite this agreement, the victim's family had been in touch with the Ecuadorian police. In an operation named 'Operación Trueno 138', agents stormed the hotel where he was being held and arrested three suspects for kidnapping. Two Ecuadorians Diego M. (26) and Carlos F. (30) were arrested. The latter had previously been convicted of murder and gang affiliation. Another Colombian, Fredy A. (45), was also arrested.
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Police say that they arrived just in time. Any longer and the suspect may have had some of his fingers cut off, the police warned. The suspects were found with a handgun and ammunition. They risk jail time of 13 years, local media states.
Belgium's Ministry of Foreign Affairs warns in its travel advice for the country that there is a heightened risk of kidnapping in certain areas. Travellers to the country should be careful not to display wealth and not to travel at night.
