A BRIT tourist who was drugged and robbed by three women in a “Goodnight Cinderella” scam has told how he “took one, two sips and then nothing.”
Horrifying footage showed the holidaymaker collapsing unconscious on Rio de Janeiro’s popular Ipanema beach after falling victim to the trick alongside his pal.
9
9
9
9
Following his horror experience, the first-time visitor to Brazil, a 21-year-old engineering student, said: “Maybe I’ll come back one day but for now I think it’s enough of this country.”
The Brit said when recalling the terrifying ordeal: “I took two sips and I don’t remember anything else.”
He added: “I tried to fight the drug. By the time I got to the beach I was completely out of it.”
He also explained that cops were still probing the ruse which has become increasingly common in Brazil among sex workers and escorts.
Criminals posing as friendly locals often use Rohypnol, GHB – or any date rape drug – to drug tourists and rob them.
Three suspects have been arrested and identified as Amanda Couto Deloca, 23, Mayara Ketelyn Americo da Silva, 26, and Raiane Campos de Oliveira, 27.
The victim spoke to local media alongside a second British student who was also targeted.
The other Brit revealed that just before losing consciousness he threw his phone into the sand when he sussed something was wrong to avoid the “Goodnight Cinderella” scam.
He told Brazilian outlet G1: “I must have realised what was going on and threw my phone.”
The other victim who was filmed as he collapsed in the sand, said they had spent “a beautiful 10 days” in the country before the ordeal.
The alleged crime occurred during the Brit pair’s midweek night out last week when they were approached by the female thieves at a bar in the Rio neighbourhood of Lapa.
They had been in Brazil for 10 days when they were targeted and had reportedly travelled to the South American country to celebrate the graduation of one of the university students.
The Brit victims were young university students and met three women at a Samba dance.
After heading to a local bar to carry on the evening, one of the victim’s said he was handed a Caipirinha cocktail before losing all consciousness.
When he woke up in hospital, he said £16,000 had been stolen from his account.
Horrifying footage showed 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.
The Brit pair also thanked a local teenage delivery man called an ambulance and helped police catch the alleged culprits.
The victim said: “I would like to thank him, whoever he is.
“He filmed, called an ambulance, and helped the police track down the suspects. Thank you to him, whoever he is.”
9
9
The Good Samaritan also filmed the shocking footage of the 21-year-old Brit collapsing unconscious on the sand.
“I called the emergency services and they confirmed police and an ambulance were on their way,” he said.
The video he filmed also showed the three suspects who were later arrested fleeing the scene.
According to investigators, the women are sex workers who target tourists in the city.
Campos de Oliveira, was even previously jailed for six months for the same type of offence – and she been arrested 20 times before.
Officers also identified the taxi driver who drove the women away after committing the offence, though he is not believed to have been involved.
9
9
The Special Tourism Support Unit have launched an investigation into the case and have urged visitors to be extra careful when socialising with strangers.
Police chief Patricia Alemany said the toxicology tests to find out exactly what drug had been used to spike the British men’s drinks were still being done.
Cops also requested CCTV images from the area to try to identify possible accomplices.
This comes as the scam has become worryingly widespread in the area with handfuls of tourists suffering its consequences.
Criminal law professor Ronny Nunes, outlined the difficulties of convicting “Goodnight Cinderella” thieves.
She said: “Generally the victims of this type of crime are foreign tourists.
“This person files a report at the police station, and the investigation begins.
“When it is necessary to consult this person, to ask them to identify someone, or even when proceedings have already been initiated, to ask them to go to court, before the judge and prosecutor, to confirm their statement, they are sometimes not found.
“When the statement, that first one at the police station, is not ratified in court, conviction becomes very difficult, and acquittal is imposed.”
Earlier this month, an escort was arrested for luring flirtatious tourists before drugging and robbing them of £13,000.
Francini Demétrio Sitas, 23, was suspected of drugging, robbing and beating a Frenchman in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
9
No Comment! Be the first one.