Latest news with #AlessandroCoatti
Daily Mail
25-05-2025
- Health
- Daily Mail
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
Violent organised crime groups in Colombia are reportedly using a potent drug to kidnap and rob British tourists. 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.
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 Irish Sun
24-05-2025
- The Irish 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 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 Read more world news 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.' Most read in The US Sun 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. 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 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 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.
Daily Mail
20-05-2025
- Daily Mail
London-based scientist was lured into a honeytrap through dating app Grindr before he was brutally dismembered in Colombia, police fear
A London-based scientist who was found dismembered in Colombia is feared to have been lured to his violent death through the gay dating app Grindr. The body of 38-year-old Alessandro Coatti, an Italian scientist working in London, was found across several different locations in the coastal city of Santa Marta on April 6, two days after he was reported missing. His torso was found miles away from his dismembered legs, head, hands and feet. Cops has wildly varying theories as to how the scientists, who previously worked at the Royal Society of Biology (RSB) for eight years as a senior policy officer, was murdered, ranging from a case of mistaken identity between battling cartels to a kidnapping at the hands of organ traffickers. But now cops believe that Coatti, who was in the region as a tourist, was the victim of a gang that targeted foreigners looking for dates abroad. Sources told a Colombian newspaper that he may have been lured to an abandoned house in the San José del Pando neighbourhood of Santa Marta after messaging someone over the dating app. Sources added that the gang planned to drug him with scopolamine, better known as Devil's Breath. While the drug can help alleviate motion sickness in small doses, it can disorient and knock people out in larger doses. There is even the risk of paralysis if not administered with the correct dose. Cops have reportedly identified at least four people, including a woman, believed to have been involved in the scheme. Mr Coatti's head, hands and feet were found in a suitcase near the Sierra Nevada stadium on April 6, two days after he was last seen leaving his hotel by the coast. His torso and other body parts were then found near the Minuto de Dios bridge a day later, before his legs were found in a coffee sack near the stadium on Tuesday. Mr Coatti, originally from Longastrino, Ravenna, was visiting the country in the hopes of one day moving there. His uncle, Giovanni Coatti, previously said of his nephew: 'He wanted to go and live in South America so he went for a trip to see; he was supposed to be back next week.' The molecular biologist had left the Royal Society of Biology in 2024 to volunteer in Ecuador and travel to South America. While in Colombia, he had asked about the local area, showing interest in learning about the local fauna and vegetation, Agenzia Nova reports. Investigators believe he had taken the evening of April 4 to go to a local club before vanishing. They are still working to understand whether or not he ever arrived, scouring CCTV and phone records. According to his uncle, he would not have been an obvious target for thieves. 'He never had much money in his pockets, or a watch or other precious objects,' he said. 'All he had was a new mobile phone to take pictures but even that was a cheap one.' A parallel investigation has also been opened in Italy and his parents have handed over devices containing his last messages. Local human rights activist Norma Vera Salazar said there have been 13 similar murders in the region in the last year. This is the first time the victim is a foreign tourist. The country, long riddled with paramilitary violence and cartel feuds, remains dangerous for tourists, and the FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the Colombia-Venezuela border and northern Colombia. Salazar warned of a 'pattern' in recent murders where people have been found dismembered and 'stuffed into garbage bags or coffee sacks and abandoned'. 'These types of homicides are used by vigilante groups to send warning messages, instill fear, and mark their territory.' 'Usually this is a way to send a message,' Victor Polo, a journalist for Santa Marta's Caracol Radio, echoed.
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- Yahoo
London scientist dismembered in Colombia was lured into trap through Grindr
A scientist found dismembered in Colombia was the victim of a honeytrap through the gay dating app Grindr, police believe. The mutilated remains of Alessandro Coatti, a 38-year-old Italian who worked in London, were discovered scattered across the coastal city of Santa Marta on April 6, two days after he was reported missing. Investigators had originally suspected the molecular biologist may have been killed in a case of mistaken identity between warring drug clans. Colombian police, however, now believe that Coatti, a tourist with no links to organised crime, was the victim of a gang targeting foreigners looking for dates online. The Italian was reportedly lured to an abandoned house in the San José del Pando neighbourhood after messaging someone over Grindr, a popular dating app designed for LGBT people. The gang's plan had been to incapacitate Coatti using a drug colloquially known as 'Devil's Breath' (scopolamine) and then rob him, according to sources first reported in El Tiempo, a Colombian newspaper. Scopolamine is a drug that can be used to treat motion sickness but in larger doses, it can disorient and incapacitate users, and even paralyse victims. What happened remains unclear but post-mortem examinations concluded that Coatti was killed by blunt-force trauma. The gang is said to have dismembered his body after his death to trick investigators into believing it was a gangland-style hit as a warning message to rivals. At least four people, including a woman, were allegedly involved in the scheme and had been identified by authorities, El Tiempo reported. A group of children stumbled across a suitcase on the side of the road leading to the Sierra Nevada football stadium containing Coatti's severed head and arms. His mutilated torso was discovered by police in a bag after locals in the Minuto de Dios neighbourhood reported a rotting smell coming from a stretch of the Manzanares river. Other remains of Coatti are still missing. Police have carried out a string of raids in Santa Marta and have seized three mobile phones in connection with the case. The city authorities have offered a £10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of his killers. Coatti, known as Ale to friends, had worked for the Royal Society of Biology (RSB) for eight years as a senior policy officer. The Italian, originally from Ferrara in northern Emilia-Romagna, had emigrated to London and left the RSB at the end of last year to volunteer in Ecuador and travel through South America. He arrived in Santa Marta on April 3 and disappeared the following day. Col Jaime Ríos Puerto, the commander of the Santa Marta police, confirmed Coatti had no criminal record and was not the subject of any threats. Sandra Lovato, Coatti's mother, shared that the last message she ever received from her son was on Mother's Day, five days before he went missing. 'Hi Mum, I want to come back. I love you, so much,' it read. Ms Lovato has shared several tributes to her son on Facebook, including highlighting his work in teaching children English in Ecuador. 'I miss you so much, I can't breathe. I miss you, I miss you so much,' she wrote in another post. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
