A Canadian man held since 2014 in China on charges of espionage and stealing state secrets has been freed and has returned to Canada, his family said Thursday.

Kevin Garratt, who ran a coffee shop in the northeastern city of Dandong, near the border with North Korea, was detained with his wife, Julia, more than two years ago. She was released in February 2015.

The pair, who had been accused by Chinese authorities of stealing military secrets, were also involved in Christian aid activities in the sensitive border area.