A British university student collapsed unconscious on Rio de Janeiro’s Ipanema beach on August 8 after being drugged by three women who stole over £16,000 from his bank accounts in what Brazilian authorities describe as a “Goodnight Cinderella” scam targeting tourists.
Video footage captured the 21-year-old engineering student staggering along the beachfront in a disoriented state before falling face-first into the sand. The victim later told Brazilian media he had consumed only “two sips” of a caipirinha cocktail before losing consciousness.
The incident began when the British tourist and his friend, also an engineering student, met three women at a samba dance during their 10-day graduation celebration trip to Brazil. The group continued drinking at a local bar in Rio’s Lapa neighborhood, where the victims were reportedly served the drugged cocktails.
Police identified the suspects as Amanda Couto Deloca, 23, Mayara Ketelyn Americo da Silva, 26, and Raiane Campos de Oliveira, 27. According to investigators, the women are sex workers who specifically target tourists in the city.
The second British victim demonstrated quick thinking when he realized something was wrong, throwing his mobile phone into the sand with the hope of preventing the suspects from accessing his banking applications. However, both tourists reported that their iPhones were stolen during the incident.
A 19-year-old delivery driver played a crucial role in the investigation after witnessing the crime unfold. He filmed the incident, called emergency services, and helped police track down the suspects. The delivery driver reported that a bystander had informed him that the women had drugged the tourist and were taking his belongings.
When the delivery driver returned to check on the victim 10 minutes later, he found the tourist unresponsive with his face in the sand. The victim was described as drooling and having his eyes open but being completely unconscious. Emergency services transported him to a hospital emergency room.
Police investigation revealed that approximately £20,000 was transferred from the victim’s investment account to his current account during the robbery. However, only about £2,000 was spent before the funds were frozen, and around £18,000 has since been recovered. The victim’s bank is expected to reimburse the remaining losses.
Campos de Oliveira has an extensive criminal history, having been arrested 20 times previously for similar offenses. She had served six months of a six-year prison sentence for drugging and robbing another British tourist in 2023 before having her conviction overturned by appeal court judges and being released from jail last month.
The suspects were identified through social media videos that showed them with the British men before the alleged robbery. Police Chief Patricia Alemany indicated that investigators are still awaiting toxicology test results to determine exactly what drug was used to spike the cocktails.
Alemany expressed frustration with the current legal system, noting that this type of robbery is a serious crime and advocating for law changes to ensure longer prison sentences for such criminals. Officers believe the women had assistance from another person during the incident and are working to identify potential accomplices.
The taxi driver who transported the women away from the scene has been questioned by police but was ruled out as a suspect. Investigators have also requested CCTV footage from the area to help identify any additional participants in the scheme.
Criminal law professor Ronny Nunes highlighted the challenges in prosecuting “Goodnight Cinderella” cases, explaining that foreign tourists often file initial police reports but may not be available for court proceedings when needed to identify suspects or confirm statements, making convictions difficult.
The Special Tourism Support Unit has issued warnings to visitors, urging caution when socializing with strangers and advising against sharing drinks. The unit is investigating the case as part of their efforts to protect tourists from similar crimes.
This incident represents a concerning pattern of tourist-targeting crimes in Rio de Janeiro. Earlier reports indicated that another escort was arrested for similar activities, having lured tourists before drugging and robbing them of significant amounts of money.
The British victims spoke to local media outside their holiday accommodation following the incident, with one expressing that while he might return to Brazil someday, for now he believes he has had enough of the country. Both tourists returned to the United Kingdom following their traumatic experience.
The “Goodnight Cinderella” scam has become increasingly common in Brazil, with criminals using date rape drugs like Rohypnol or GHB to incapacitate victims before robbing them. High doses of these depressants can cause convulsions, foaming at the mouth, and complete loss of consciousness, leaving victims with no memory of the events.