Guyanese family pleads for release of man kidnapped by Venezuela drug cartel
-local cops contact Venez. counterparts
“Uncle, please send de money in two days, because these people gun kill me…”
Hog-tied, his face swollen, blood dripping from his mouth onto a bed-sheet, 29-year-old Guyanese
A hog-tied Paul De Weever
Paul De Weever made the plea in a graphic video that was sent to his family a few days ago.
The video was reportedly made by members of a drug cartel, who appear to be accusing the welder and father of three of stealing from them. The men are said to be demanding 28 million Bolivars for De Weever’s release.
Crime Chief Wendell Blanhum said yesterday that the Guyana Police Force has notified their Venezuelan counterparts, via INTERPOL, about the alleged abduction.
“We have notified them that we are willing to provide any information.”
However, he said that no member of the De Weever’s family has contacted the police. “No relative has contacted us asking for assistance.”
Blanhum also revealed that de Weever had come to the attention of the police on two occasions.
A relative told Kaieteur News that they last saw
De Weever in October. They said that the man, who has twin sons, aged three, and a five-year-old daughter, did not tell them where he was going.
Paul De Weever
Then last month, they learnt that he was in Venezuela, “and then things got haywire.”
They received a message, via WhatsApp, from de Weever who said that he had been abducted by Venezuela drug dealers, who were demanding 28M Bolivars from his family.
“He send a message saying ‘I ain’t deh good, these people beating me, and send 28M or these people gun kill me.”
A photograph, posted on Facebook also shows the Guyanese sitting on a bed near piles of cash.
Following that, is a video which shows him lying hog-tied on a bed, while a man who speaks with a foreign accent punches and whips him.
The man also presses a foot at the back of De Weever’s neck, while throttling him with a length of cord. De Weever’s face is swollen and he is bleeding from the mouth, as he asks an unnamed uncle to “send de money.”
The relative said that someone sent the video to de Weever’s father on December 17, which happens to be the father’s birthday. The kidnapped man’s birthday is on December 21. The video was made on November 11, last.
But the relative insists that the family knows nothing about De Weever’s dealings and have no clue about the money he allegedly took.
“We don’t know anything about drugs…We are a poor family. We are asking them to give him a chance to tell them where the money is. “