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A crucial travel advisory has been issued for British travelers following incidents where tourists in Brazil have been drugged and robbed in a scheme known as the “Goodnight Cinderella” scam.
This warning comes after a British tourist reportedly lost consciousness at Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Ipanema beach last week, allegedly after consuming just two sips of a drink spiked with potent drugs.
The young man, a university student celebrating his graduation with a pal, was later found in hospital with £16,000 missing from his account.
Authorities indicate this is part of a notorious scam in Brazil, where sex workers use substances like Rohypnol and GHB to lace drinks of unsuspecting tourists, subsequently robbing them.
These drugs, commonly associated with “date rape” incidents, can induce blackouts, memory lapses, and paralysis, leaving the victims exposed to theft and occasionally sexual assault.
These have come to be known as “Goodnight Cinderella” schemes.
In this case, the victim and his friend met three women during a night out at a samba dance in Rio’s vibrant Lapa district.
They continued the evening at a local bar, where one of the victims was handed a Caipirinha cocktail – Brazil’s national drink.
He collapsed shortly afterward and woke up in hospital, discovering a large sum of money had been stolen from him.
The two Brits, who have not been named, also claim their phones were stolen.
Horrifying footage shows one of the tourists staggering along the beachfront before collapsing into the sand.
The women are then seen running along the street and jumping into a taxi before quickly leaving the area.
Police identified the perpetrators as Amanda Couto Deloca, 23, Mayara Ketelyn Americo da Silva, 26, and Raiane Campos de Oliveira, 27, through footage circulated online.
Oliveira has reportedly been arrested 20 times for similar offences.
The incident is part of a wider trend that has seen growing numbers of tourists fall prey to the “Goodnight Cinderella” scheme.
Earlier this month, Francini Demétrio Sitas, 23, was detained after she enticed tourists and then drugged and stole £13,000 from a French tourist in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Sitas, who reportedly works as an escort, is known in the criminal underworld as the “Queen of Goodnight Cinderella”, according to Rio’s Special Police Station for Tourist Support.
In August last year, American businessman D’wayne Antonio Morris, 43, died in a similar suspected drugging and robbery case in Brazil, reported local outlet g1.
Morris had arrived in Brazil just one day before he was found dead in his rented Copacabana apartment.
Surveillance footage captured two women, including prime suspect Letícia Clara Bento da Silva, 23, leaving the scene after allegedly drugging and robbing him.
Police believe the women used GHB – which is particularly dangerous in higher doses, as it can cause respiratory failure and death.
Advice by the FCDO
The FCDO currently “advises against all but essential travel to parts of Brazil”.
Under the subcategory ‘scams’, the Foreign Office writes:
“Dating apps have been used by criminals to target foreign nationals in Brazil, leading to spiking of drinks, robbery and theft from bank accounts. Exercise caution when engaging with such apps, buy and keep hold of your own drinks, share your plans with friends or family, and be vigilant of your belongings including your mobile phone.”
Under the subcategory ‘sexual assault and drink spiking’, the advice reads:
“Rape and other sexual offences against tourists are not common, but there have been attacks against both women and men. Some have involved date rape drugs. Buy your own drinks and keep them in sight. If you begin to feel strange, sick or drunk after only a couple of drinks, tell a trusted friend or security staff. They should take you to a safe place, such as your hotel room or a hospital. You can phone the local police, a hospital or the nearest British embassy or consulate for advice.”
