TOURISTS in Colombia are being hunted by gangs utilizing a terrifying drug dubbed Satan’s Breath — a mind-warping chemical that turns victims into compliant “zombies” earlier than they’re robbed, kidnapped and even killed.

Also referred to as scopolamine or burundanga, the highly effective drug is derived from the seeds of the Borrachero tree and was as soon as examined by the CIA as a fact serum.

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In doses as small as 10mg, it might probably paralyse victims and go away them extremely prone to instructions, making them straightforward prey for criminals.

Victims lose their will, neglect what occurred, and sometimes hand over PINs, valuables and passwords with no battle.

Now Colombian gangs are plying unsuspecting vacationers with the drug by way of drinks, chewing gum, cigarettes — and even enterprise playing cards soaked within the substance — typically after luring them by apps like Tinder or Grindr. And the physique rely is rising.

Murders, robberies & warnings

In a UK first, the drug was utilized in 2019 to homicide Irish dancer Adrian Murphy.

Teen killer Diana Cristea and her boyfriend Joel Osei met him on Grindr, poisoned him with scopolamine, and ransacked his flat.

They have been later convicted of homicide and tried homicide of a second sufferer.

In Colombia, international customer deaths rose by 29% final 12 months. Robberies in Medellín alone soared by 200% within the final quarter of 2023, prompting worldwide warnings.

The US Embassy warned: “The usage of on-line relationship apps can improve your danger. Be cautious assembly strangers.”

Backstreet chemists can extract 90% pure scopolamine with little extra data than a second-year science pupil.

In grapefruit juice, the drug is much more potent as a result of the juice slows the physique’s capacity to interrupt it down.

UK scientist’s brutal dying

British-based scientist Alessandro Coatti, 42, was on vacation in Santa Marta final month when he was lured to an deserted home by way of Grindr.

There, investigators consider he was drugged, bludgeoned to dying, dismembered, and stuffed into suitcases.

His stays have been discovered scattered throughout the town, found by horrified youngsters.

Solely his head, arms and toes have been recovered.

Mayor Carlos Pinedo Cuello mentioned: “We’re providing a reward of fifty million Colombian pesos for info that can permit us to determine and seize these accountable. This crime is not going to go unpunished.”

Coatti, a Royal Society of Biology scientist, had been travelling in South America after leaving his job to volunteer in Ecuador.

He was recognized by a resort wristband discovered on one among his severed limbs.

Whereas the precise explanation for dying for the Italian scientist stays formally unconfirmed, there may be hypothesis that he might have been drugged with scopolamine previous to his homicide.

The ‘Scopolamine Queen’

One of many masterminds behind this chilling felony development is alleged gang boss Carolina Mejía Montoya, 27, nicknamed “The Queen of Scopolamine.”

She was arrested in Medellín after years of drugging and robbing international vacationers in luxurious flats and lodges throughout the vacationer hotspots of El Poblado and Parque Lleras.

She racked up thousands and thousands in thefts, utilizing her magnificence to realize the belief of high-profile guests.

In a single night time alone, she stole greater than 120 million pesos from an Italian and an American man, police mentioned.

CCTV captured her main victims into short-term leases earlier than drugging them and fleeing with their money, playing cards and jewelry.

Mejía, a part of the La Marina gang, had beforehand been granted home arrest in a gun case — solely to fade and proceed her spree.

‘You do something they are saying’

Victims describe the impact of the drug as hypnotic and horrifying.

Fernando, a 64-year-old Brit, believes he was drugged whereas on a piece journey to Bogotá in 2012.

He informed The Telegraph: “It’s very harmful since you’re completely hypnotised, you do something they are saying.”

He mentioned he blacked out after sipping a spiked beer and awakened the following day with €1,000 gone.

Safety later confirmed he’d wandered again to his resort, retrieved a card from his protected, and left once more—whereas nonetheless below the affect.

“It does one thing to your mind the place you neglect fully… it’s like a vacuum,” he added.

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Too late to recollect

Others haven’t been so fortunate. Colombian TikTok person “Manning” recalled being drugged after a Tinder date — waking up six hours later in a ransacked residence, his valuables, designer garments and even his flip-flops gone.

“It was the worst expertise. I awakened and located myself mendacity in my residence, a large number,” he mentioned, in line with Infobae.

Safety footage confirmed the date calmly leaving with stolen suitcases.

And it’s not simply apps or nightlife.

In Bogotá, scopolamine has been sprinkled on ATMs, notebooks, and even jackets to focus on unsuspecting victims in daylight.

In a single case on the Atlantis Purchasing Middle, a girl fainted after touching a keypad coated in powder.

In one other, a person grew to become disoriented after making an attempt to assist a stranger with instructions close to the Andino mall.

Each survived — however consultants warn many don’t.

“It places the mind to sleep. You’re a zombie,” Dr Sarah Cockbill, a retired guide pharmacist, informed The Telegraph.

“Folks do exactly wander spherical in what appears like a trance.”

Prof Kamyar Afarinkia, a toxicology skilled, added: “You may get a enterprise card, soak it in [scopolamine], let it dry after which give it to anyone.

“After they contact it, except they wash their arms shortly, it will get absorbed below their pores and skin.”

The drug’s recognition with criminals lies in its subtlety.

Victims received’t realise they’ve been uncovered till it’s too late—and plenty of are too embarrassed to report it.

In response to the US Embassy in Bogotá, eight Americans died in late 2023 alone from involuntary drug overdoses or suspected scopolamine-related homicides.