Gangs preying on British tourists in Colombia by befriending them on Tinder or Grindr before drugging them with 'Devil Breath' truth serum to kidnap and rob them
Devil's Breath, also known as scopolamine and burundanga, was previously used as a truth serum by the CIA and comes from the seeds of the Borrachero tree in South America.
Now, feared mobsters are using it to drug unsuspecting tourists after ensnaring them with honey trap schemes through dating apps like Tinder and Grindr.
Hundreds of people in Colombia are thought to have been targeted with the drug.
Colombian police reportedly fear London-based scientist Alessandro Coatti, 38, may have died after being targeted this way.
The molecular biologist was staying at a hostel in the scenic historic centre of the coastal city of Santa Marta while on holiday last month.
Victims of the Devil's Breath can be paralysed and go into a 'zombie' stupor if they ingest as little as 10mg of the drug.
It also makes them susceptible to following commands - and, after up to an hour of hallucinations and delirium, they could lose control of their body and even die.
Colombian detectives fear Mr Coatti may have gone to an abandoned house in the southern San José del Pando area of the city after connecting with someone on Grindr, The Daily Telegraph reported.
His remains were reportedly discovered by a group of children and he was said to have been identified by a hotel wristband.
Mr Coatti had worked at the Royal Society of Biology since April 2017 - first as a science policy officer and for the past six years as a senior science policy officer.
Before joining the professional association, created to advance the interests of biology in academia, industry, education and research, the Italian-born scientist had been a post-graduate neuroscience researcher at University College London.
He was among Royal Society of Biology representatives who appeared before Parliament, in June 2022, to discuss the future regulation of UK genetic technologies.
The drug is thought to have been used before in honey trap schemes in Colombia.
Video showed the man carrying a paper bag and keying in the code for the entrance door's security lock.
One of the women, dressed in a black bodysuit, looked forward while her accomplice, wearing a similar pink outfit, turned around and looked towards a group of people that were standing near their motorcycles.
The individual then opened the door as the suspects followed him into the home - where the alleged robbery took place.
Once inside, the women allegedly drugged the man with powdered scopolamine, otherwise known as the 'Devil's Breath,' which causes a person to become disoriented.
The women fled with the victim's money, jewelry and cell phone.
According to Medellín authorities, at least 254 people were robbed in 2023 by criminals who exposed them to powdered scopolamine.
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