A British man has been arrested in Ecuador after the body of a woman was discovered inside a suitcase in Colombia, in a case now under international investigation involving multiple law enforcement agencies.
The suspect, identified as 46-year-old Matthew Ashley Foster-Smith from Bournemouth, Dorset, is alleged to have caused the death of 36-year-old Natalia Villalba inside an apartment in Bogotá on 18 June.
According to Colombia’s Attorney General’s Office, Foster-Smith is suspected of violently assaulting Villalba before placing her body inside a suitcase in an attempt to conceal the crime. Authorities say he then fled the scene shortly after the incident.
Following the discovery, Colombian prosecutors obtained an arrest warrant and requested an Interpol Red Notice, triggering an international manhunt across several countries.
Foster-Smith was later detained at Quito International Airport in Ecuador, where authorities acted on the alert and took him into custody. Officials confirmed that coordination between Ecuadorian authorities, Colombian investigators, and UK law enforcement helped locate and arrest him.
Bogotá mayor Carlos Fernando Galán praised the cross-border cooperation, while confirming that British police had assisted in tracking the suspect’s movements. The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office also confirmed it was providing support following his arrest.
A spokesperson for the department said it was in contact with local authorities in Ecuador regarding the detention of a British national.
Court documents in Colombia allege that Foster-Smith beat Villalba to death before attempting to dispose of her body and escape the country. Investigators are now working to reconstruct his movements in the hours and days following the alleged killing.
Foster-Smith has a prior criminal record in the UK. He was previously jailed for two years and two months for stalking-related offences committed in 2023.
After his release, he was placed under a stalking prevention order issued by Poole Magistrates’ Court in January. The order required him to maintain regular contact with police, disclose his address and vehicle details, and avoid contact with victims. It also imposed restrictions on his use of electronic devices.
Authorities in Dorset have been approached for comment as investigations continue.
The case is expected to move toward extradition proceedings, as Colombian authorities prepare to formally request his return to face charges in connection with Villalba’s death.
Officials have described the investigation as ongoing and complex, involving cooperation between multiple international agencies.
