DEA Official: "One of Our Agents Has Confirmed Everything You Said About This Drug"
In May, the United Kingdom’s Daily
Mail
published a news story entitled The Most Dangerous Drug in the World: The Devil’s
Breath.
The story focused on a Colombia-based drug
called scopolamine, a derivative of burundanga, which reportedly places users
or victims in a “zombie-like state”-- for hours, days or weeks -- and completely
erases their memory.
Scopolamine also has the potential to render
users and victims to a child-like state and can cause death in a matter of
minutes if a certain dosage is exceeded.
Pharmaceutical companies in the U.S. use
scopolamine for the production of certain medications, such as motion-sickness
tablets, but not in its purest form and only in very small quantities.
In the documentary film “World's Scariest Drug”, Ryan Duffy interviews
people that were beaten or robbed shortly after the drug was slipped into
drinks or blown into their face by prostitutes in nightclubs or people passing
them on the street.
Others were victimized after receiving something
as simple as a finger swipe under the nose.
“It’s called the Devil’s Breath because it takes
your soul,” said one of the victims showcased in the film.
“It literally robs you of your free will, and there is nothing you can do about
it.”
The drug is produced from the Borrachero tree,
one of the country’s most recognizable and feared trees because of its potency
and hallucinogenic components.
According to another witness appearing in the documentary,
the powdery drug, which bears a striking resemblance to cocaine, is so potent
that “if placed on a simple piece of paper, and the paper is placed near the
person’s face, the person will fall victim to it in a matter of seconds.”
In numerous instances, victims were captured on
bank surveillance tapes willfully emptying their bank accounts while the
assailants waited outside.
Other victims happily rummaged through their
belongings and handed over checkbooks, credit cards, jewelry, car keys and
other valuable possessions at the request of criminals.
In the most extreme cases, victims discovered
kidneys and other organs had been removed after regaining consciousness.
Amazingly, the victims have no recollection of
what happened or how it happened. As a result, hundreds of crimes go unreported
and unsolved.
Snopes.com recently noted, “The U.S. State Department’s information
about Colombia has for years cautioned travelers about such drugs. Its 21 June
2007 travel advisory about crime in that country said: The Embassy continues to
receive reports of criminals using disabling drugs to temporarily incapacitate
tourists and others. At bars, restaurants and other public areas, perpetrators
may offer tainted drinks, cigarettes or gum. Typically, victims become
disoriented or unconscious, and are thus vulnerable to robbery, sexual assault,
and other crimes. Avoid leaving food or drinks unattended at a bar or
restaurant, and be suspicious if a stranger offers you something to eat or
drink.”
In effort to verify much of what the Dail Mail
story and film reported, From The G-Man contacted the Drug Enforcement Agency
(DEA) in Washington, D.C. and spoke to Barbara Carreno, Public Affairs Officer,
DEA HQ Public Affairs Section.
Carreno had no knowledge of the drug or its
origin and went on to say that she would look into the matter.
Several days later, Carreno stated the following
during a phone conversation:
“After conferring with one of the DEA agents
here, who spent a number of years in Bogota, Colombia, the agent confirmed everything
you stated regarding scopolamine and the crimes that are being committed. According
to the agent, it has been a major problem for quite some.”
Carreno went on to note that she had concerns
about this news story being published, citing it could provide information to people
that might make them want to gain access to the drug for criminal purposes.
“I’m not telling you that you shouldn’t run the
story. I just worry that criminals here in the U.S. who aren’t aware of the
drug will read your story and say ‘Ah-ha!’ Personally, and I’m not speaking for
the agency when I say this, I feel the less that people know about this drug,
the better,” said Carreno.
From The G-Man asked Carreno if there was a
possibility that scopolamine could one day infiltrate the U.S. -- and what measures,
if any, are in place to prevent it from entering the country.
“That’s a great question, but I would suggest
you reach out to officials at U.S. Customs Border Protection (CBP) for an answer.”
Emails were sent and calls were placed to the
U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency in Washington, D.C. and the New
York division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
To date, representatives from the aforementioned
agencies have not responded to our request for comments regarding this story.
From The G-Man will publish all comments from
the agency officials if and when they choose to respond.