Spanish police have arrested two Syrian men in connection with a Vancouver woman's disappearance months earlier in Syria — but her family doubts the arrests will help find her.

The men, aged 32 and 30, were arrested Monday in an apartment in Barcelona.

Nicole Vienneau, who grew up in Toronto and lives in Vancouver, was last seen in Syria on March 31.

Nicole Vienneau, 32, was travelling in Syria when she went missing on March 31. She was last seen leaving her hotel room near the western city of Hama to go on a day trip to the ancient ruins known as Dead Cities, in the northwest of the country.

Vienneau's family has offered a reward of up to $20,500 for information on her whereabouts.

Spanish police said one man remains in custody, while the other was released but remains a suspect.

Police said they traced five e-mails about Vienneau to the apartment of the Syrian men. In the e-mails, Vienneau's brother, Matthew, was informed that she was fine but would be harmed if police were contacted. The author of the e-mail claimed to negotiating for the missing woman's release.

A police statement said it was unclear if the two men were part of a suspected kidnapping or were trying to get ransom money.

Matthew said the operation was a hoax. He said the men were just after the reward money his family has offered for his sister's safe return.

Matthew distributed 30,000 flyers in Syria in June promoting the reward money his family has offered.

Nicole, an experienced traveller, had backpacked to remote regions around the world over the past 10 years.

She grew up in Toronto and moved to Vancouver after graduating from high school. Her family is still in Toronto.

With files from the Associated Press