A businessman’s 20-year-old daughter has been kidnapped by burglars and possibly taken to another country.
Mum-of-one Yuliana Lindarte Rolón was at the family’s holiday home with her mum when six or seven men armed with rifles broke into the property.
They forced her into one of the family’s cars and drove away, leaving her mother behind.
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A source close to the investigation told local media: “Under death threats, they overpowered everyone inside the house.
“They ransacked the place, found jewellery and money, and stole them. Then, they forced all the victims into the living room.
“While some stood guard, others grabbed Yuliana and forced her into one of the family’s SUVs before fleeing. The rest left soon after.”
The horror unfolded at around 11:25 am on Sunday (22 Jun).
The property is located in the rural La Mutis, in Colombia’s Los Patios municipality.
The area, which lies close to the border with Venezuela, is often used by criminal organisations.
Authorities fear the men may have taken Yuliana, who is the mother of a three-year-old girl, into the neighbouring country.
Yuliana’s father’s name is being withheld for security reasons. He was elsewhere at the time of the break-in.
He is a prominent businessman and owns several coal mines in the region, according to local media.
Early investigations suggest Yuliana’s kidnapping is financially motivated.
However, other possible motives have not been ruled out, as reported by Need To Know.
Police and soldiers are carrying out aerial and ground search operations in a bid to locate her and the stolen vehicle.
Unnamed public security officials told local media, “Every piece of information could be crucial.
“We are following every lead and working in close coordination to ensure her swift release.”
And an officer from GAULA – Colombia’s special anti-kidnapping unit – added: “The situation is delicate, but we are not letting our guard down.
“Every minute counts in these cases.”
Yuliana is popular on Instagram, with more than 25,000 followers.
Some of her online photos show her holidaying in Mexico.
Her family have been relocated to a safe area as the investigation continues.
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