Latest news with #AdrianMurphy
Scottish Sun
24-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
How tourists are being targeted with ‘Devil's Breath' drug that turns victims into ‘zombies' for robberies & kidnaps
Victims become powerless, suffer memory loss, and frequently give up PINs, valuables, and passwords without a struggle DEVIL YOU KNOW How tourists are being targeted with 'Devil's Breath' drug that turns victims into 'zombies' for robberies & kidnaps Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) TOURISTS in Colombia are being hunted by gangs using a terrifying drug dubbed Devil's Breath — a mind-warping chemical that turns victims into compliant 'zombies' before they're robbed, kidnapped or even killed. Also known as scopolamine or burundanga, the powerful drug is derived from the seeds of the Borrachero tree and was once tested by the CIA as a truth serum. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 6 Tourists in Colombia are being targeted by gangs wielding a terrifying drug known as Devil's Breath Credit: AFP 6 Devil's Breath comes from the seeds of the Borrachero tree Credit: Alamy 6 UK-based scientist Alessandro Coatti was poisoned in Colombia Credit: 6 In doses as small as 10mg, it can paralyse victims and leave them highly susceptible to commands, making them easy prey for criminals. Victims lose their will, forget what happened, and often hand over PINs, valuables and passwords without a fight. Now Colombian gangs are plying unsuspecting tourists with the drug via drinks, chewing gum, cigarettes — or even business cards soaked in the substance — often after luring them through apps like Tinder or Grindr. And the body count is rising. Murders, robberies & warnings In a UK first, the drug was used in 2019 to murder Irish dancer Adrian Murphy. Read more world news MODEL MURDER Horror as influencer model shot dead at door by hitman Teen killer Diana Cristea and her boyfriend Joel Osei met him on Grindr, poisoned him with scopolamine, and ransacked his flat. They were later convicted of murder and attempted murder of a second victim. In Colombia, foreign visitor deaths rose by 29% last year. Robberies in Medellín alone soared by 200% in the last quarter of 2023, prompting international warnings. The US Embassy warned: 'The use of online dating apps can increase your risk. Be cautious meeting strangers.' Backstreet chemists can extract 90% pure scopolamine with little more knowledge than a second-year science student. In grapefruit juice, the drug is even more potent because the juice slows the body's ability to break it down. UK scientist's brutal death British-based scientist Alessandro Coatti, 42, was on holiday in Santa Marta last month when he was lured to an abandoned house via Grindr. There, investigators believe he was drugged, bludgeoned to death, dismembered, and stuffed into suitcases. His remains were found scattered across the city, discovered by horrified children. Only his head, hands and feet have been recovered. Footballer rushed to hospital after being shot as he got into firefight with bungling robbers who killed man at bar Mayor Carlos Pinedo Cuello said: 'We are offering a reward of fifty million Colombian pesos for information that will allow us to identify and capture those responsible. This crime will not 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 identified by a hotel wristband found on one of his severed limbs. While the exact cause of death for the Italian scientist remains officially unconfirmed, there is speculation that he may have been drugged with scopolamine prior to his murder. The 'Scopolamine Queen' One of the masterminds behind this chilling criminal trend is alleged gang boss Carolina Mejía Montoya, 27, nicknamed 'The Queen of Scopolamine.' She was arrested in Medellín after years of drugging and robbing foreign tourists in luxury apartments and hotels across the tourist hotspots of El Poblado and Parque Lleras. She racked up millions in thefts, using her beauty to gain the trust of high-profile visitors. In one night alone, she stole more than 120 million pesos from an Italian and an American man, police said. CCTV captured her leading victims into short-term rentals before drugging them and fleeing with their cash, cards and jewellery. Mejía, part of the La Marina gang, had previously been granted house arrest in a gun case — only to vanish and continue her spree. 'You do anything they say' Victims describe the effect of the drug as hypnotic and horrifying. Fernando, a 64-year-old Brit, believes he was drugged while on a work trip to Bogotá in 2012. He told The Telegraph: 'It's very dangerous because you're totally hypnotised, you do anything they say.' He said he blacked out after sipping a spiked beer and woke up the next day with €1,000 gone. Security later confirmed he'd wandered back to his hotel, retrieved a card from his safe, and left again—while still under the influence. 'It does something to your brain where you forget completely… it's like a vacuum,' he added. 6 Gang boss Carolina Meija Montoya arrested in Medellin Credit: Policía Metropolitana del Valle de Aburrá 6 In Colombia, foreign visitor deaths rose by 29% last year Too late to remember Others haven't been so lucky. Colombian TikTok user 'Manning' recalled being drugged after a Tinder date — waking up six hours later in a ransacked apartment, his valuables, designer clothes and even his flip-flops gone. 'It was the worst experience. I woke up and found myself lying in my apartment, a mess,' he said, according to Infobae. Security footage showed the date calmly leaving with stolen suitcases. And it's not just apps or nightlife. In Bogotá, scopolamine has been sprinkled on ATMs, notebooks, and even jackets to target unsuspecting victims in daylight. In one case at the Atlantis Shopping Center, a woman fainted after touching a keypad coated in powder. In another, a man became disoriented after trying to help a stranger with directions near the Andino mall. Both survived — but experts warn many do not. 'It puts the brain to sleep. You are a zombie,' Dr Sarah Cockbill, a retired consultant pharmacist, told The Telegraph. 'People do just wander round in what looks like a trance.' Prof Kamyar Afarinkia, a toxicology expert, added: 'You can get a business card, soak it in [scopolamine], let it dry and then give it to somebody. 'When they touch it, unless they wash their hands quickly, it gets absorbed under their skin.' The drug's popularity with criminals lies in its subtlety. Victims won't realise they've been exposed until it's too late—and many are too embarrassed to report it. According to the US Embassy in Bogotá, eight American citizens died in late 2023 alone from involuntary drug overdoses or suspected scopolamine-related homicides.
The Sun
24-05-2025
- The Sun
How tourists are being targeted with ‘Devil's Breath' drug that turns victims into ‘zombies' for robberies & kidnaps
TOURISTS in Colombia are being hunted by gangs using a terrifying drug dubbed Devil's Breath — a mind-warping chemical that turns victims into compliant 'zombies' before they're robbed, kidnapped or even killed. Also known as scopolamine or burundanga, the powerful drug is derived from the seeds of the Borrachero tree and was once tested by the CIA as a truth serum. 6 6 6 6 In doses as small as 10mg, it can paralyse victims and leave them highly susceptible to commands, making them easy prey for criminals. Victims lose their will, forget what happened, and often hand over PINs, valuables and passwords without a fight. Now Colombian gangs are plying unsuspecting tourists with the drug via drinks, chewing gum, cigarettes — or even business cards soaked in the substance — often after luring them through apps like Tinder or Grindr. And the body count is rising. Murders, robberies & warnings In a UK first, the drug was used in 2019 to murder 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 were later convicted of murder and attempted murder of a second victim. In Colombia, foreign visitor deaths rose by 29% last year. Robberies in Medellín alone soared by 200% in the last quarter of 2023, prompting international warnings. The US Embassy warned: 'The use of online dating apps can increase your risk. Be cautious meeting strangers.' Backstreet chemists can extract 90% pure scopolamine with little more knowledge than a second-year science student. In grapefruit juice, the drug is even more potent because the juice slows the body's ability to break it down. UK scientist's brutal death British-based scientist Alessandro Coatti, 42, was on holiday in Santa Marta last month when he was lured to an abandoned house via Grindr. There, investigators believe he was drugged, bludgeoned to death, dismembered, and stuffed into suitcases. His remains were found scattered across the city, discovered by horrified children. Only his head, hands and feet have been recovered. Footballer rushed to hospital after being shot as he got into firefight with bungling robbers who killed man at bar Mayor Carlos Pinedo Cuello said: 'We are offering a reward of fifty million Colombian pesos for information that will allow us to identify and capture those responsible. This crime will not 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 identified by a hotel wristband found on one of his severed limbs. While the exact cause of death for the Italian scientist remains officially unconfirmed, there is speculation that he may have been drugged with scopolamine prior to his murder. The 'Scopolamine Queen' One of the masterminds behind this chilling criminal trend is alleged gang boss Carolina Mejía Montoya, 27, nicknamed 'The Queen of Scopolamine.' She was arrested in Medellín after years of drugging and robbing foreign tourists in luxury apartments and hotels across the tourist hotspots of El Poblado and Parque Lleras. She racked up millions in thefts, using her beauty to gain the trust of high-profile visitors. In one night alone, she stole more than 120 million pesos from an Italian and an American man, police said. CCTV captured her leading victims into short-term rentals before drugging them and fleeing with their cash, cards and jewellery. Mejía, part of the La Marina gang, had previously been granted house arrest in a gun case — only to vanish and continue her spree. 'You do anything they say' Victims describe the effect of the drug as hypnotic and horrifying. Fernando, a 64-year-old Brit, believes he was drugged while on a work trip to Bogotá in 2012. He told The Telegraph: 'It's very dangerous because you're totally hypnotised, you do anything they say.' He said he blacked out after sipping a spiked beer and woke up the next day with €1,000 gone. Security later confirmed he'd wandered back to his hotel, retrieved a card from his safe, and left again—while still under the influence. 'It does something to your brain where you forget completely… it's like a vacuum,' he added. 6 6 Too late to remember Others haven't been so lucky. Colombian TikTok user 'Manning' recalled being drugged after a Tinder date — waking up six hours later in a ransacked apartment, his valuables, designer clothes and even his flip-flops gone. 'It was the worst experience. I woke up and found myself lying in my apartment, a mess,' he said, according to Infobae. Security footage showed the date calmly leaving with stolen suitcases. And it's not just apps or nightlife. In Bogotá, scopolamine has been sprinkled on ATMs, notebooks, and even jackets to target unsuspecting victims in daylight. In one case at the Atlantis Shopping Center, a woman fainted after touching a keypad coated in powder. In another, a man became disoriented after trying to help a stranger with directions near the Andino mall. Both survived — but experts warn many do not. 'It puts the brain to sleep. You are a zombie,' Dr Sarah Cockbill, a retired consultant pharmacist, told The Telegraph. 'People do just wander round in what looks like a trance.' Prof Kamyar Afarinkia, a toxicology expert, added: 'You can get a business card, soak it in [scopolamine], let it dry and then give it to somebody. 'When they touch it, unless they wash their hands quickly, it gets absorbed under their skin.' The drug's popularity with criminals lies in its subtlety. Victims won't realise they've been exposed until it's too late—and many are too embarrassed to report it.
The Herald Scotland
09-05-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
BP boss steps down as green drive goes into reverse
Mr Lund is closely associated with BP's efforts to shift away from fossil fuels towards renewables, a muddled strategy that has been a major contributor to the underperformance of the company's share price relative to US peers such as Shell and ExxonMobile. An analysis of the latest market statistics by property firm DJ Alexander showed the average house price in Scotland rose by £11,458 to reach £187,434 as of the end of January. That was an annual increase of 6.5%, compared to a rise of 4.9% in England and Wales during the same period. Read more Business HQ Monthly: There were substantial variations, however, with East Renfrewshire recording the highest increase of £24,461 to reach £287,649. This was followed by a £24,071 rise in Edinburgh to £295,133, with the capital remaining the country's most expensive place to live. Elsewhere, prices in Stirling were up by £19,837 to £232,039, East Lothian increased by £17,172 to £291,329, and there was a £16,311 increase in East Dunbartonshire to £260,563. The three lowest increases were in Aberdeen which rose by £1,798 to £140,831, Clackmannanshire which increased by £2,018 to £158,658, and Aberdeenshire which was up £2,113 at £202,612. Shares in Tesco tumbled after the supermarket giant warned of lower profits in the coming year to give it wriggle room for an anticipated price war amid a broader battle against rising employment costs. Analysts said the UK's biggest grocery retailer is entering the fray from a relatively strong position, with sales for the year to February 22 up 3.5% at £63.6 billion and a market share of 28.3% at its highest since 2016. However, pre-tax profits fell by 3.2% to £2.2bn, dragged lower by a weak performance in its Booker wholesale division. Despite robust trading across other areas of the business, Tesco lowered its profit target for the current year to provide the 'flexibility and firepower to respond to current market conditions'. Adrian Murphy (Image: Murphy Wealth) Glasgow's Murphy Wealth delivered a surprise in the run-up to Easter with news that the family-owned firm has taken the 'biggest step ever' in its history by selling a 30% stake in the business to one of Europe's wealth management giants. Söderberg & Partners , which manages assets worth more than £85 billion, has taken the minority stake in Glasgow-based Murphy Wealth for an undisclosed sum. It marks the latest in a string of such deals by Söderberg, with this being its first in Scotland. Murphy Wealth employs 13 people providing financial planning advice to entrepreneurs, business owners, executives and investors throughout the UK. It is owned by Adrian Murphy, who purchased the business from his father Brian before relocating in 2013 to Glasgow from the firm's original home in Ayr. "My father started this business 50 years ago, and I've spent 20-plus years building it – this investment is about securing its future as an independent company, expanding our reach, and ensuring we remain at the forefront of financial planning for decades to come,' Mr Murphy said. 'Technology is one of the biggest challenges in wealth management today, and Söderberg & Partners have been investing in AI and machine learning for years. Their expertise will free up our advisers to spend more time with clients, develop our team faster, and future-proof our business."
