If you're planning a trip to Colombia — or anywhere in Latin America — you need to know about scopolamine. Known on the streets as burundanga or Devil's Breath, this powerful drug has been used in tens of thousands of robberies, assaults, and worse across the region.
This isn't a scare tactic. It's a reality that informed travelers prepare for. Here's what you need to know.
What Exactly is Scopolamine?
Scopolamine is a tropane alkaloid derived from plants in the Solanaceae family — most notably the borrachero tree (Brugmansia), which grows abundantly throughout Colombia. The tree produces beautiful trumpet-shaped flowers, earning it the nickname "angel's trumpet." But there's nothing angelic about how criminals use its extract.
In legitimate medicine, scopolamine is used in tiny, controlled doses to treat motion sickness and post-operative nausea (you may have seen the patch worn behind the ear). But in the doses used by criminals — typically blown as powder into a victim's face, slipped into a drink, or applied to paper or food — it becomes a terrifying incapacitating agent.
How Does Scopolamine Affect the Body?
Scopolamine blocks the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the brain. In criminal doses, this produces a unique and horrifying combination of effects:
- Complete loss of free will. Victims become docile and highly suggestible. They can walk, talk, and follow instructions — but cannot resist or make independent decisions.
- Anterograde amnesia. Victims typically cannot form new memories while under the influence. They wake up hours later with no recollection of what happened.
- Disorientation and confusion. Victims appear drunk or disoriented to bystanders, making it easy for criminals to escort them without raising suspicion.
- Physical symptoms: Dilated pupils, dry mouth, increased heart rate, difficulty urinating, and in high doses, hallucinations, seizures, or even death.
The effects typically last 4 to 12 hours, though some victims report lingering confusion and memory gaps for days afterward. The "zombie-like" compliance is what makes this drug uniquely dangerous — victims have been known to empty their own bank accounts, hand over valuables, and even help criminals carry their belongings out of their own apartments.
How Do Criminals Use Scopolamine?
In Colombia, scopolamine is primarily used in three scenarios:
1. Dating App Robberies ("Scopolamine Queens")
This is the most common method targeting foreigners. A woman — known as a scopolamine queen — matches with a target on Tinder, Bumble, or other dating apps. After building rapport, she arranges a meeting. During the date, she slips scopolamine into the victim's drink. The victim becomes compliant, and the criminal (often working with accomplices) empties the victim's apartment, wallet, and bank accounts.
In the first 10 months of 2023 alone, 32 foreign nationals were violently killed in Medellin — a 40% increase from the previous year. Many were connected to dating app encounters.
2. Street Attacks
Criminals blow scopolamine powder into a victim's face on the street, hand them a scopolamine-laced paper or business card, or offer drugged food or candy. Within minutes, the victim becomes compliant.
3. Nightlife Drugging
In bars and clubs, drinks are spiked with scopolamine. This targets both tourists and locals, particularly in party zones like Medellin's Parque Lleras or Bogota's Zona Rosa.
How Many People Are Affected?
The numbers are staggering. Colombia's National Institute of Legal Medicine has estimated approximately 50,000 scopolamine incidents per year in the country. Most go unreported because victims either don't remember what happened or feel embarrassed.
Tourists are increasingly targeted because they:
- Carry more cash and valuables
- Are less familiar with local dangers
- Are more likely to use dating apps to meet locals
- Often travel alone or without a local support network
- May not speak enough Spanish to seek immediate help
How to Protect Yourself
The good news: scopolamine attacks are preventable with awareness and basic precautions.
Before Meeting Someone
- Check them against a database. Use GringosUp's free safety check to upload their photo and cross-reference it against our verified database of known scopolamine queens.
- Video call first. Verify the person matches their photos before meeting in person.
- Share your plans. Tell a friend where you're going, who you're meeting, and set check-in times.
- Research the area. Stick to well-known, busy public places.
During a Date or Outing
- Never leave your drink unattended. Not even for a second. Order drinks directly from the bartender and watch them being made.
- Don't accept food, drinks, or cigarettes from strangers.
- Don't invite someone to your accommodation on a first meeting. This is the #1 red flag — scopolamine queens commonly suggest going to your place for drinks.
- Trust your gut. If something feels off, leave immediately.
If You Suspect You've Been Drugged
- Get to a hospital immediately (or call 123 in Colombia)
- Contact your embassy
- File a police report
- Report the incident to GringosUp so we can add the person to our database and protect others
The Bottom Line
Scopolamine is real, it's common, and it targets tourists specifically. But it's also preventable. By staying informed, using tools like GringosUp's facial recognition safety check, and following basic safety practices, you can dramatically reduce your risk.
Colombia is an incredible country with warm, welcoming people. Don't let the actions of a small criminal element ruin your experience — just travel smart.