A kidnapped Spanish couple rescued by Colombian police

Colombian police staged a raid in the country's northern La Guajira province over the weekend and rescued two Spanish tourists held captive by an unidentified group for nearly a month, local media said.

The tourists, who were identified as Angel Sanchez Fernandez, 49, and Maria Marlaska Sedano, 43, and were believed to be a couple, were kidnapped on May 17 while traveling by car to the popular tourist destination of Cabo de la Vela on Colombia's northern peninsula.

The local RCN Radio station said that the operation was carried out by the anti-kidnapping police units in Maicao municipality, located near the Colombian-Venezuela border.

The rescued Spanish couple are in good health, according to police sources.

Although this Colombian region is highly influenced by the violent actions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia ( FARC), the rebel armed group denied involvement in the kidnapping. It was reported that the kidnappers had identified themselves as members of the guerrilla group when they contacted the couple's family in Spain to demand a ransom.