Two British engineering graduates who collapsed in the sand on a Brazilian beach after being drugged and robbed of thousands of pounds by three women have told of their terrifying ordeal.
The two friends, who were interviewed on local TV but did not give their names, had travelled to Rio de Janeiro to celebrate their graduation.
They had been in the popular tourist city for 10 days before meeting three women during a night out and allegedly falling victim to a so-called ‘Goodnight Cinderella’ scam infamous in Brazil – drugging unwitting tourists before robbing them.
One of the victims, 21, said the women gave him a caipirinha cocktail and that after drinking just ‘two sips’ he lost consciousness and doesn’t ‘remember much of anything else’.
Viral footage showed one of the victims, visibly disoriented, staggering along the beachfront before collapsing face-first into the sand. It was unclear what had caused the collapse.
High doses of the depressant GHB is often used to incapacitate victims, and can cause convulsions and foaming at the mouth.
Speaking to local media after the video went viral, the victim said: ‘I tried to fight the drug. By the time I got to the beach I was completely out of it.’
His companion, who was also targeted, realised something was wrong and threw his phone into the sand to stop it from being stolen right before he passed out as well.
Moments earlier, three women, believed to be the suspects, were seen running along the street and jumping into a taxi before quickly leaving the area.
Two Brits who were drugged and robbed in Rio de Janeiro have spoken about their terrifying ordeal
Viral footage showed one of the victims, visibly disoriented, staggering along the beachfront before collapsing face-first into the sand
Police later identified the suspects as Amanda Couto Deloca, 23, Mayara Ketelyn Americo da Silva, 26, and Raiane Campos de Oliveira, 27 (All pictured)
The Brit who appeared in the video also praised a 19-year-old delivery driver who filmed the scene and called emergency services.
He 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.’
The delivery driver said he had been told by a bystander that ‘these women just drugged him, they’re taking his things.’
He confronted the women, saw them flee in a taxi, and when he returned 10 minutes later, he found the tourist still unresponsive, drooling, and face-down in the sand.
He then called for help, which police say may have prevented more serious medical consequences.
Police said around £20,000 was moved from one victim’s investment account to his current account during the robbery, but only about £2,000 was spent before the funds were frozen.
Around £18,000 has since been recovered.
The suspects – named as Amanda Couto Deloca, 23, Mayara Ketelyn Americo da Silva, 26, and Raiane Campos de Oliveira, 27 – are still being sought.
One of them said the women gave him a caipirinha cocktail and that after drinking it he lost consciousness
Police said around £20,000 was moved from one victim’s investment account to his current account during the robbery
Three women, believed to be the suspects, were seen running along the street and jumping into a taxi before quickly leaving the area
The two friend had travelled to Rio de Janeiro to celebrate their graduation
Speaking to local media, the Brits said they are getting ready to go back to the UK
Officers believe they were in contact by phone with another person during the incident and are working to identify them.
According to investigators, the women are sex workers who target tourists in the city.
One of them, Campos de Oliveira, was previously jailed for six months for the same type of offence but is now suspected of returning to the scheme.
The suspects were recognised by the victims in videos posted on social media, where they appear alongside the men before the alleged robbery.
Officers have also located the taxi driver who drove the women away from the scene. He is not suspected of involvement.
The case is being investigated by the Special Tourism Support Unit, which has urged visitors to be cautious when socialising with strangers and to avoid sharing drinks.
The Brits told local media that they are preparing to return to the UK following their horrific experience.
‘Maybe I’ll go back… but for now, that’s enough of Brazil’, one of the victims said.
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