The Vice of Colombia's Scopolamine (Devil's Breath) Drug
Above is a picture I took by a rural river in the central Colombian department of Cundinamarca. This plant, one that can be found all throughout populated and rural areas including Colombia's capital, is becoming known for a particular vice. It is being used as a drug to rob, rape and kill people. It has become a legendary story of an infamous drug in itself. I myself have had no experiences of the drug nor have I known anyone personally affected by it. However, Colombian's are great at making thin stories sound real to them. Then again I may have simply fallen victim to its use and just not known about it. I have confidently never been on a 'millionaire's tour of Bogotá', unwittingly clearing my account of cash from various ATMs around the city. Perhaps its use, criminally, is relatively low to even affect the regular visiting gringo.
Another interesting fact surrounding this drug and one that comes close to me is that it's first recorded criminal use was by a Hawley Harvey Crippen. Accused and found guilty of using it to murder his wife Belle Elmore (born Kunigunde Mackamotski to a German mother and a Polish-Russian father). He was tried and executed at Pentonville Prison, the same area of London that I am heavily connected with. You can read more into it by a London local blog post here, although the wiki article on Hawley Harvey Crippen gives a better look at the link between the murder and scopolamine.
Another interesting fact surrounding this drug and one that comes close to me is that it's first recorded criminal use was by a Hawley Harvey Crippen. Accused and found guilty of using it to murder his wife Belle Elmore (born Kunigunde Mackamotski to a German mother and a Polish-Russian father). He was tried and executed at Pentonville Prison, the same area of London that I am heavily connected with. You can read more into it by a London local blog post here, although the wiki article on Hawley Harvey Crippen gives a better look at the link between the murder and scopolamine.