Colombia frees two kidnapped Spanish tourists

Colombian police freed two Spanish tourists who were kidnapped by criminals last month.
The raid in a rural area of northwest Colombia was the successful culmination of a plan in which part of the ransom money demanded by the kidnappers was paid to accomplices in Spain, as a way to find out where the captives were being held, said Humberto Guatibonza, head of a police anti-kidnapping unit said yesterday.
One of the captives, Maria Concepcion Marlaska Sedano, is the sister of a senior Spanish judge, Fernando Grande-Marlaska.
The kidnappers had demanded 500,000 euros in ransom. Part was paid to alleged accomplices in Spain, who were then arrested.

That payment divided the kidnapping gang, as some wanted to free the captives and others wanted to press for the rest of the money, said Guatibonza.
From the detainees police learned the captives, who were kidnapped on May 17, were being held in a remote area of La Guajira province near the border with Venezuela.
Upon arrival in Bogota yesterday they did not speak to reporters but gave the thumbs up sign.