CASTRIES, St Lucia (CMC) — Several videos have surfaced on social media showing a young St Lucian man being held hostage and tortured overseas in an apparent drug move gone bad.

In the videos released over the weekend, the handcuffed youth is wearing what appears to be a blood-stained shirt and is pleading for his life.

“Mommy, tell Shawn pay the people for me – mommy, mommy, the people go kill me! The people go cut my head!” The victim said as automatic weapons  were pointed at his head.

In another video the victim is seen lying on the ground while two men, one with an automatic weapon and another with a chain saw, stand over him.

Reliable sources have confirmed that the young man in the videos is 18-year-old Scott Atkins, who is originally from the East coast village of Micoud.

It has also been revealed that the ‘Shawn’ he mentioned in his video is his cousin.

In the video, Atkins begs ‘Shawn’ to pay his captors because if he doesn’t they will kill him.

Sources say Atkins was kidnapped in February from Trinidad and Tobago and taken to Venezuela where he has been held by his captors ever since.

The gang holding Atkins claims it is owed over US$130,000 by a relative of Atkins.

St Lucia’s National Security Minister, Hermangild Francis, has described as “unfortunate” videos that surfaced on social media over the weekend, showing a young St Lucian man being held hostage and tortured overseas in an apparent drug move gone bad.

Francis said he plans to meet with the Commissioner of Police today to discuss the matter

Francis told reporters Monday that it was a “terrible” situation and he sympathises with the victim’s family.

He said the situation should serve as a warning to youth to stay away from the illegal drugs trade.

“It just shows  and tells our young people in St Lucia that yes you may get through once, twice, three times, but you gonna be caught. And if you are caught, this is some of the penalties that you will have to face. So it’s really not a good trade to get yourself involved in,” he said.

He said while the lure of quick money and fancy vehicles may be attractive, “those persons from outside are very vicious”. “they do not care who you are or what job you have, whatever they want, as long as you do not pay, you are going to have to meet the piper and sing the tune.”

He hopes the person he mentions on the video can come to his senses and make the payment being demanded.

Francis added that he’s very concerned about illegal drugs and firearms being brought into St Lucia through the Venezuelan drug connections.

He said the current political turmoil in Venezuelan has left many Venezuelans desperate and now they are coming to St Lucia.

There are at least three Venezuelans currently detained at Bordelais Correctional Facility, he said.

“This is worrying,” Francis said. “This is very very worrying. These guys will do anything and it stretches our armed forces so it is of very great concern to me.”

He plans to meet with the External Affairs Minister, Sarah Flood-Beaubrun and the Venezuelan Ambassador with a view to stemming the flow of Venezuelans coming to St Lucia.