Kidnapped vendor Shane Ramjattan returned home on Saturday morning and hugged his weeping mother before giving his family an incredulous story of how he was held captive by Venezuelan smugglers.
He said the two Venezuelans and one Trinidadian were operating from a forest in south Trinidad and were bringing in guns soaked in oil which he had to clean out.
The four-day ordeal ended on Saturday morning when the kidnappers decided to drop him back to Congo Trace near an area where one of Ramjattan's friends lived.
During an interview with Guardian Media hours after his release, Ramjattan said on Wednesday he was gambling and drinking. After winning $7,000 from a roulette machine, Ramjattan said he went to buy more rum with his winnings.
"A white van was driving directly behind me and I slowed down. He passed and stopped in front of me and my tailgate touched his bumper and it got damaged." Ramjattan said.
In desperation, he offered the driver $300 to fix his bumper but the man demanded $500 so he went back in the car to bring out more money.
"I turned my back to get the rest of the money to pay him but a Spanish grabbed me from behind and took me in their vehicle. They banded up my face with a red jersey and one Spanish from the front seat jumped out and went into the vehicle which I was driving," Ramjattan said.
He said they carried him into a forested area.
When asked how he knew he was in the forest, Ramjattan said, "We drove 40 minutes and then walked for about 25 minutes in the bush. When they took off the band, I saw that we were in a forest camp. They beat me, slapped me, kicked in my ribs. They left me there to suffer. They had guns and drugs right there. They made no demands on me. They just kept me sitting down like a dog in the camp."
By Friday, Ramjattan said the men began using him to do their dirty work.
"After the first night and the next day, they took out the ties. I had plenty times when I could run away but I didn't know where I was and where I was going," Ramjattan added.
When asked why he did not seize the opportunity to run, Ramjattan said, "I was afraid. Suppose I run and they shoot me and kill me?
"So I just sit down right there. If I knew where I was I would know where to run but I didn't know where I was.
" Supposed they see me running and they run me down. I would have ended up dead. They might have shot me.
"They tied me with a short piece of rope which they cut out from the tarpaulin that they had. I was put to sit on the ground and my two hands tied behind my back."
When asked whether he got food, Ramjattan said, "They gave me bread and white flaky cheese. I couldn't stomach it. I vomited it."
He said during the ordeal he felt as if he was going to die and his lips began to get parched so the kidnappers fed him sips of water.
On Saturday, Ramjattan said the kidnappers picked him up and walked him to a vehicle with his head banded.
"They dropped me at Congo trace. They said don't remove the headband before they leave. Then I walked to one of my friend's house and he called the police," he added.
Ramjattan said he was bitten by sandflies in the forests. His body has some minor bruises but there was no evidence of mosquito bites.
He said he planned to visit the San Fernando General Hospital for a medical checkup.
His father Ramesh Ramjattan said he was thankful to get back his son. He said before Ramjattan's return, a woman came to their home and told him that she prayed and it was revealed to her that Ramjattan will come back.
Mother Radica Ramjattan wept with relief when her son came home.
"There is a living God. I never give up hope. God answered my prayers. I am a Hindu and this deya there never out. I said it is not outing until my son comes home," Radica said.
She said she was thankful for the media and to the police for assisting.
Insp Putkoo, Sgt Persad, Cpl Lalsiew and PC's Gross, Ramrattansingh and Soogrim are continuing investigations.