A BRIT tourist who was robbed by three women in Brazil has told how he took two sips of a drugged drink they bought him before collapsing.
Horrifying footage showed the holidaymaker falling unconscious on Rio de Janeiro’s popular Ipanema beach after falling victim to what has been branded the “Goodnight Cinderella” scam.
A Brit tourist who fell to the ground after reportedly being drugged by local women has broken his silenceNewsflash
NewsflashTwo Brit men who fell victim to the scam have told local media about their experience[/caption]
NewsflashMayara Ketelyn Americo da Silva, 26, is one of the women alleged to have scammed the Brit[/caption]
NewsflashFellow suspect Raiane Campos de Oliveira, 27, has been arrested 20 times for similar offences[/caption]
Recalling the terrifying ordeal, the 21-year-old engineering student said: “I took two sips [of the cocktail] 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 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.
Following his horror experience, the first-time visitor to Brazil said: “Maybe I’ll come back one day but for now I think it’s enough of this country.”
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 pal, also from the UK, who was also targeted.
The fellow student said that before losing consciousness he threw his phone into the sand.
He told Brazilian outlet G1: “I must have realised what was going on and threw my phone.”
The pair said they had spent “a beautiful 10 days” in the South American country before the ordeal.
They had reportedly travelled there to celebrate a graduation.
The alleged crime occurred during a midweek night out last week when the two pals were approached by the female thieves at a bar in the Rio neighbourhood of Lapa.
The Brits met the three women at a Samba dance.
After heading to a local bar to carry on the evening, one of the victims said he was handed a Caipirinha cocktail before losing 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 who 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.”
NewsflashAmanda Couto Deloca, 23, is suspected of doping the Brit[/caption]
The Brit tourist said he took a few sips and then collapsedNewsflash
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, has been arrested 20 times before.
Officers also identified the taxi driver who drove the women away, though he is not believed to have been involved.
NewsflashThe two pals had been holidaying in Brazil at the time[/caption]
NewsflashThe three suspects were filmed running off and getting into a taxi[/caption]
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.
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.
NewsflashThe Brit pals said they had spent ‘a beautiful 10 days’ in Brazil[/caption]
NewsflashShocking footage showed one of the Brits stumble on the beach after being drugged[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
