Hypnotic “Zombie” Drug Made From Flowers Used to Steal Millions
An unusual drugs story is doing the rounds this week, with reports that two Chinese women in Paris have been arrested for blowing “devils breath” drug into people’s faces, which has results in a strong hypnotic trance, reports CNET.
Police in Paris have arrested two Chinese women and a man on suspicion of using the Colombian drug to turn people into compliant “zombies” in order to rob them.
Brugmansia arborea, also known as Angel’s Trumpet, from the Solanaceae family, contain the chemical scopolamine. Image Credit: Seongbin Im (Flickr)
The women, 42 and 59, reportedly approached victims and blew a substance into their face which put them into the hypnotic state. They would then take the victims home and ask them to hand over all money and jewelry. Police report that one Parisian lost €100,000 in cash and valuables this way. It is thought the three have obtained millions of dollars worth of valuables this way.
The drug, which is lethal in large doses, is so powerful it was allegedly used by the Soviets and the CIA as a truth serum during the Cold War. It causes strong hallucinations and supposedly robs a person of their free will.
It contains scopolamine, a chemical extracted from a South American tree, which is related to deadly nightshade or belladonna. Recently, it’s been discovered to have been used in low doses as a medicine in Ottoman times.
Chinese authorities informed French polices that the three belonged to a notorious Chinese criminal network, which works around the world, specializing in mental submission by using unknown substances. Other members of the same gang have reportedly been arrested in China and South Korea.
