Latest news with #Devil'sBreath
Scottish Sun
25-06-2025
- Health
- Scottish Sun
Fears ‘world's scariest Zombie drug' Devil's Breath is in UK after woman suffered horrifying ordeal on tube
The drug turns people into malleable zombies who have nightmarish hallucinations DRUG DREAD Fears 'world's scariest Zombie drug' Devil's Breath is in UK after woman suffered horrifying ordeal on tube Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE world's scariest drug Devil's Breath - used by organised crime groups to kidnap Brits abroad - may have made its way into the UK. The mind-warping chemical was once tested by the CIA as a truth serum and turns tourists into "zombies" who give up valuables without a struggle. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 4 Atropa belladonna, commonly known as deadly nightshade, is a highly toxic plant and is used for scopolamine, also known as Devil's Breath Credit: Alamy 4 Deborah Oscar, 30, suspects she was spiked on a London train with 'Devil's Breath' drug Credit: SWNS Also known as scopolamine or burundanga, the powerful drug is derived from the seeds of the Borrachero tree and wipes away memory and free will. The US's Overseas Security Advisory Council has warned travellers to South America about the dangers of Devil's Breath. It is administered via drinks, chewing gum, cigarettes or paper and card. The drug has also been linked to deaths in the UK - including Irish dancer Adrian Murphy, who died in 2019 after his killers administered scopolamine. Last month it was reported that Colombian police fear London-based scientist Alessandro Coatti, 38, who was found dead while on holiday in Santa Marta in April, may have been targeted with Devil's Breath too. While the powdered form is tasteless and odourless, it is a potent drug that can disorient and incapacitate people and lead to hallucinations. How tourists are being targeted with 'Devil's Breath' drug that turns victims into 'zombies' for robberies & kidnaps By Juliana Cruz Lima 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. 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. 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. 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. According to the UK Addiction Treatment group, it can also effect memories, make users highly impressionable and even paralyse them. Victims have been raped, convinced to commit violent crimes, emptied their bank accounts and even had their organs stolen while under the influence of this drug. Zaheen Ahmed, Director of Addiction Therapy at The UKAT Group, told The Sun: "It wouldn't be a stretch to suggest that Devil's Breath could have made its way into the UK. "Unfortunately, when there's high demand for drugs, especially 'new' drugs, supply will find a way. "Although primarily found in Columbia, we know that it's already made its way into Europe, and so unfortunately, there is every chance that it is already here." It comes after a woman claimed she was spiked with the terrifying drug on a London tube. Deborah Oscar, 30, was on the Elizabeth Line leaving from Abbey Wood when a woman wafted a newspaper in her face - leaving her feeling "high" and "sleepy - before sitting next to her in an empty carriage. Barely able to keep her eyes open, Deborah remembered a TikTok video she had seen about 'Devil's Breath' - a drug called scopolamine blown on victims to turn them into compliant "zombies" before they are robbed or killed. She stumbled out of the train to safety. Deborah, a content creator, from Abbey Wood, southeast London, is adamant she was hit with the drug which at one point was used in an estimated 50,000 attacks a year in South America, with reports of street robberies in Paris. Deborah said: "This train was fairly empty, and this woman was walking slowly wafting this newspaper staring at me. "I assumed she was a confused tourist about to ask for directions. What is Devil's Breath? Some people may take the drug on purpose for a "dream-like state" it can induce, mistakenly thinking it will be like mainstream hallucinogens like LSD. But Devil's Breath hallucinations tend to be far more disturbing and disjointed, often manifesting as nightmarish visions or confusing scenarios that blur the lines of reality. It may also be taken by mistake due to its close resemblance to cocaine. The correct dosage of the drug is notoriously hard to pin down, and even a slight miscalculation can lead to an overdose. This can lead to respiratory failure, acute psychosis and even death. Symptoms may include dry mouth, difficulty speaking, lethargy, hallucinations, rapid heartbeat and disorientation. Source: The UKAT Group "But she just maintained eye contact. It felt eerie and very odd but she was quite well dressed, so I didn't feel scared really, she just looked like a tourist. "Then she came and sat down next to me and I felt like I needed a deep sleep, I suddenly felt very peaceful. "Like the first few seconds when you have anaesthesia before a surgery. "I thought I had low blood sugar, maybe I was about to faint - that's when I remembered videos I had seen about the 'Devil's Breath' drug. "She walked away eventually but kept staring at me the whole time." Deborah said she was left feeling drunk - and that her "mind was working faster than her body", during the incident around 11am on Tuesday, June 17. "The doors closed behind me and I got away - once I stepped into the fresh air outside, the feeling began to subside too. "I had my Yves Saint Laurent bag on me, maybe they thought I was wealthy. But I was wearing a dress from Primark too." After sharing her experience online she said she has had other people contacting her sharing similar experiences in London. When contacted, the Met Police were unable to comment on whether this is a wider issue across London. A TfL spokesperson said: "Everyone should feel safe and be safe when travelling in London and we're very sorry that Ms Oscar experienced what must have been an extremely frightening incident for her. "We take all reports of crime seriously and are investigating this incident "We ask anyone who witnesses or experiences a crime to report it to British Transport Police on 6101." 4 Deborah Oscar was left fearing for her safety after being "spiked" with the drug Credit: SWNS
The Irish Sun
25-06-2025
- The Irish Sun
Fears ‘world's scariest Zombie drug' Devil's Breath is in UK after woman suffered horrifying ordeal on tube
THE world's scariest drug Devil's Breath - used by organised crime groups to kidnap Brits abroad - may have made its way into the UK. The mind-warping chemical was once tested by the CIA as a truth serum and turns tourists into "zombies" who give up valuables without a struggle. Advertisement 4 Atropa belladonna, commonly known as deadly nightshade, is a highly toxic plant and is used for scopolamine, also known as Devil's Breath Credit: Alamy 4 Deborah Oscar, 30, suspects she was spiked on a London train with 'Devil's Breath' drug Credit: SWNS Also known as scopolamine or burundanga, the powerful drug is derived from the seeds of the Borrachero tree and wipes away memory and free will. The US's Overseas Security Advisory Council has warned travellers to South America about the dangers of Devil's Breath. It is administered via drinks, chewing gum, cigarettes or paper and card. The drug has also been linked to deaths in the UK - including Irish dancer Adrian Murphy, who died in 2019 after his killers administered scopolamine. Advertisement Read more Last month it was reported that Colombian police fear London-based scientist Alessandro Coatti, 38, who was found dead while on holiday in Santa Marta in April, may have been targeted with Devil's Breath too. While the powdered form is tasteless and odourless, it is a potent drug that can disorient and incapacitate people and lead to hallucinations. How tourists are being targeted with 'Devil's Breath' drug that turns victims into 'zombies' for robberies & kidnaps By Juliana Cruz Lima 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. In a UK first, the drug was used in 2019 to 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. 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. 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. According to the UK Addiction Treatment group, it can also effect memories, make users highly impressionable and even paralyse them. Victims have been raped, convinced to commit violent crimes, emptied their bank accounts and even had their organs stolen while under the influence of this drug. Advertisement Most read in The Sun Exclusive Zaheen Ahmed, Director of Addiction Therapy at The UKAT Group, told The Sun: "It wouldn't be a stretch to suggest that Devil's Breath could have made its way into the UK. "Unfortunately, when there's high demand for drugs, especially 'new' drugs, supply will find a way. "Although primarily found in Columbia, we know that it's already made its way into Europe, and so unfortunately, there is every chance that it is already here." It comes after a woman claimed she was spiked with the terrifying drug on a London tube. Advertisement Deborah Oscar, 30, was on the Barely able to keep her eyes open, Deborah remembered a TikTok video she had seen about 'Devil's Breath' - a drug called scopolamine blown on victims to turn them into compliant "zombies" before they are robbed or killed. She stumbled out of the train to safety. Deborah, a content creator, from Abbey Wood, southeast London, is adamant she was hit with the drug which at one point was used in an estimated 50,000 attacks a year in South America, with reports of street robberies in Paris. Advertisement Deborah said: "This train was fairly empty, and this woman was walking slowly wafting this newspaper staring at me. "I assumed she was a confused tourist about to ask for directions. What is Devil's Breath? Some people may take the drug on purpose for a "dream-like state" it can induce, mistakenly thinking it will be like mainstream hallucinogens like LSD. But Devil's Breath hallucinations tend to be far more disturbing and disjointed, often manifesting as nightmarish visions or confusing scenarios that blur the lines of reality. It may also be taken by mistake due to its close resemblance to cocaine. The correct dosage of the drug is notoriously hard to pin down, and even a slight miscalculation can lead to an overdose. This can lead to respiratory failure, acute psychosis and even death. Symptoms may include dry mouth, difficulty speaking, lethargy, hallucinations, rapid heartbeat and disorientation. Source: The UKAT Group "But she just maintained eye contact. It felt eerie and very odd but she was quite well dressed, so I didn't feel scared really, she just looked like a tourist. "Then she came and sat down next to me and I felt like I needed a deep sleep, I suddenly felt very peaceful. Advertisement "Like the first few seconds when you have anaesthesia before a surgery. "I thought I had low blood sugar, maybe I was about to faint - that's when I remembered videos I had seen about the 'Devil's Breath' drug. "She walked away eventually but kept staring at me the whole time." Deborah said she was left feeling drunk - and that her "mind was working faster than her body", during the incident around 11am on Tuesday, June 17. Advertisement "The doors closed behind me and I got away - once I stepped into the fresh air outside, the feeling began to subside too. "I had my Yves Saint Laurent bag on me, maybe they thought I was wealthy. But I was wearing a dress from Primark too." After sharing her experience online she said she has had other people contacting her sharing similar experiences in London. When contacted, the Met Police were unable to comment on whether this is a wider issue across London. A TfL spokesperson said: "Everyone should feel safe and be safe when travelling in London and we're very sorry that Ms Oscar experienced what must have been an extremely frightening incident for her. "We take all reports of crime seriously and are investigating this incident Advertisement "We ask anyone who witnesses or experiences a crime to report it to British Transport Police on 6101." 4 Deborah Oscar was left fearing for her safety after being "spiked" with the drug Credit: SWNS 4 The incident went down on the Elizabeth Line as it left Abbey Wood Credit: Getty
NDTV
24-06-2025
- NDTV
Woman Claims She Was Attacked By 'Devil's Breath' On London Underground
A UK woman claimed that she was attacked with a memory-erasing drug, nicknamed 'Devil's Breath', while she was travelling in the London Underground on the Elizabeth Line, Metro reported. Deborah Oscar, who is a content creator, revealed that she was approached by a woman who was waving a newspaper in an empty carriage. As the woman sat beside her, Oscar said she started to feel high and drowsy within moments. The 30-year-old linked the June 17 incident to a robbery attempt after running into two suspicious men in another carriage while fleeing. "This train was fairly empty, and this woman was walking slowly, wafting this newspaper, staring at me," Deborah said as quoted. "I assumed she was a confused tourist about to ask for directions. But she just maintained eye contact." Oscar revealed that it felt "eerie and very odd", but didn't feel scared as the woman was well dressed. "She just looked like a tourist," Oscar said. "Then she came and sat down next to me and I felt like I needed a deep sleep, I suddenly felt very peaceful," she recalled. "I thought I had low blood sugar, maybe I was about to faint - that's when I remembered videos I had seen about the 'Devil's Breath' drug," she said. Oscar said she was feeling "unsafe" and moved to a different carriage, but she saw two men staring at each other and her. "I got off at the next stop and these two men looked straight at each other - I knew they knew each other," she said. She fears that this might become a new crime trend; hence, she warned the Londoners. "London would be the perfect place for it, there are so many people and an already very busy police force," she said. "But if people are aware this might be a new method, they can have it in their minds and be more prepared," she said. 'Devil's breath' is a potent inhalational anaesthetic, known as hyoscine. It's the scientific name of scopolamine. It's not typically considered a "drug" in the recreational sense but rather a medication with specific medical uses. However, due to its potency and potential for misuse, it has become popular for all the wrong reasons.
Metro
24-06-2025
- Metro
Severe delays on London Underground District and Circle lines due to 'faulty tra
Commuters' journeys have been thrown into chaos as some of the busiest London Underground lines suffer severe delays. The Central, Circle and District lines have have all been delayed on either the entire or parts of the services. This is due to a faulty train at Earl's Court and a signal failure at Bethnal Green. The Hammersmith and City and Metropolitan lines are also seeing minor delays due to a faulty train at Euston Square. Got a story? Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ Or you can submit your videos and pictures here. For more stories like this, check our news page. Follow on Twitter and Facebook for the latest news updates. You can now also get articles sent straight to your device. Sign up for our daily push alerts here. MORE: Woman claims she was spiked by 'zombifying' drug 'Devil's Breath' on Tube MORE: Thirteen arrested after 'draconian' police clash with pro Palestinian protesters in London MORE: Palestine Action 'will be banned' as terror group in UK
Metro
23-06-2025
- Metro
Woman claims she was spiked by 'zombifying' drug 'Devil's Breath' on Tube
A Tube passenger claims she was spiked with a terrifying memory-erasing drug named 'Devil's Breath' on the London Underground. Deborah Oscar, 30, described how she was approached by a woman slowly waving a newspaper in an empty carriage on the Elizabeth Line. She said she then began feeling 'high' and 'sleepy' within moments of the stranger sitting beside her. Deborah fears she had been targeted for robbery, after running into two suspicious men in another carriage as she fled. Devil's Breath is a date-rape drug which can 'zombify' a victim and is used by crime groups to kidnap and rob tourists. The drug, with a scientific name of scopolamine, was reportedly used in the death of London scientist who was found chopped up in suitcase in Columbia. Deborah, a content creator from Abbey Wood in south east London, is convinced she was targeted by Devil's Breath on that Tuesday morning, June 17. Deborah said: 'This train was fairly empty, and this woman was walking slowly wafting this newspaper staring at me. 'I assumed she was a confused tourist about to ask for directions. 'But she just maintained eye contact. 'It felt eerie and very odd but shew was quite well dressed, so I didn't feel scared really, she just looked like a tourist. 'Then she came and sat down next to me and I felt like I needed a deep sleep, I suddenly felt very peaceful. 'Like the first few seconds when you have anaesthesia before a surgery. 'I thought I had low blood sugar, maybe I was about to faint – that's when I remembered videos I had seen about the 'Devil's Breath' drug. 'She walked away eventually but kept staring at me the whole time.' The content creator then moved to another carriage after feeling unsafe and that her 'mind was working faster [her] body'. However just as she hopped over, she then saw two men staring at each and her. She added: 'I decided its better to be paranoid and safe than risk it. 'I got off at the next stop and these two men looked straight at each other – I knew they knew each other. Devil's Breath is scopolamine, a drug can be used to treat motion sickness. However in larger doses, as small as 10mg, it can incapacitate and even paralyse victims. Victims can reportedly hand over their PIN numbers, valuables and passwords while under the influence. The drug hit the headlines in the UK when a gifted dancer was fatally poisoned with it in summer 2019. Joel Osei, 26, used a fake dating app profile to entrap 43-year-old Irishman Adrian Murphy, killing him with an overdose of scopolamine. Devil's Breath has also been blamed for thousands of crimes in South America. Eight American citizens died in late 2023 from involuntary drug overdoses or suspected scopolamine-related homicides, the US Embassy in Bogota has said. 'The doors closed behind me and I got away – once I stepped into the fresh air outside, the feeling began to subside too. 'If I hadn't seen those videos, I would probably have just sat there and I don't know what would have happened. 'I had my Yves Saint Laurent bag on me, maybe they thought I was wealthy. But I was wearing a dress from Primark too.' Deborah fears her experience could be the start of a worrying new trend where robbers use the drug to target Londoners. The 30-year-old warned: 'London would be the perfect place for it, there are so many people and an already very busy police force. 'But if people are aware this might be a new method, they can have it in their minds and be more prepared.' More Trending When contacted, the Met Police were unable to comment on whether this is a wider issue across London. A TfL spokesperson said: 'Everyone should feel safe and be safe when travelling in London and we're very sorry that Ms Oscar experienced what must have been an extremely frightening incident for her. 'We take all reports of crime seriously and are investigating this incident. 'We ask anyone who witnesses or experiences a crime to report it to British Transport Police on 61016.' Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Thirteen arrested after 'draconian' police clash with pro Palestinian protesters in London MORE: Palestine Action 'will be banned' as terror group in UK MORE: I moved to the UK's second most boring place at 25 — I never want to leave
