Be Careful Out there....

[GrizGator]

My wife and I were talking tonight and the topic of "gringo safety" came up. She told me the story of how some unsuspecting gringos have had white powder blown in their face and have basically blacked out for hours or more....while they are robbed and dumped some place. My wife says that this tactic has been expanded to other means......perfume sprayed by a beautiful woman and fumes coming from a bottle (such as a nail polish remover bottle). She says that the women are often working with men and that this type of activity might happen in a public place. My wife is always worried about me and is always saying "be careful," But I thought I'd mention it again just because there have been cases of this reported in El Tiempo and other places. Just be careful and keep your wits about you when you are out. I personally don't use public transportation in Colombia (other than taxis)....primarily for my comfort (given my height), but also for reasons such as this. I travel alone at times, but I try to be careful of where and when I go and I try to keep my "guard" up. No need to be paranoid, but I think it's prudent to understand the type of tactics that have been used by those meaning to take your money (with little concern for your health). My wife also points out that while gringos are often a target for such activity, Colombianos are not immune. Her cousin had a problem in a taxi once. Whatever was done to him, he spent two days in the hospital recovering.

Griz

[HonkyTonk]

Griz, I have a laundry list of these kind of experiences that I personally know about...and a slew of 1st and 2nd hand stories

I burned myself out posting 1/10th of what I know because it all boiled down to this...either you get it or you don't. I got tired of the "Safer than Kansas" mentality. Survival of the Fittest is what my creed is now.

Even though I'm burned out telling our members to watch out as it goes in one ear and out the other, it's always a good thing to bring up again.

Moving this to the Safety Forum...and no, I don't care to debate this issue

[Tinto]

Griz,

The drug you are referring to is called scopolamine or Colombian Devil's Breath. There is an interesting nine part series about this drug found at the following web site:

http://www.vbs.tv/video.php?id=1119242704

[Airto]

I'm glad the subject of safety did come up, I do think about that and I have been robbed before (state side). You tend to look at things differently after it has happened to you. I think the scopolamine is tricky because it makes everything appear normal but really someone has control of you. Its not a public attention getter like being drugged and falling out or a gun stuck in your face. It makes me think about the Hiawaska tea you would get from a shaman in the amazon, this also comes from a plant.

They make a powered in Haiti also and the neurotoxin comes from the belly of a puffer fish and they have been known to blow it your face also. It puts you in a state where you are conscious but you cannot move, not even an eye blink.

[Airto]

Also on the subject of Safety, you have to be careful not to make yourself a target. The father of a coworker of mine went back home to El Salvador visiting and he road the bus while he was there. He saw some kids that were very poor and gave them some money so they could go to the local tienda then he got on the bus. A beautiful latina sat next to him and started a conversation, after the bus got down the road about a mile she told him there was gun in his back and to give up the rest of his money. It turned out that she was with a man who sat behind them that did have a gun in his back, they watched him buy things in the tienda and saw him give the kids some money. He thought he should have known better but it had been quite a few years since was last there. He had been living in San Francisco.

[GrizGator]

Yes, some times doing what seems to be a nice thing is not the way to go. As has been said by others time and time again, don't stick out any more than you already do. That means pay attention to your dress, don't flash money and jewelry, don't be loud and obnoxious (drawing attention to yourself), etc......and, of course, pay attention to your surroundings and don't put yourself in an obviously bad situation (going to the wrong part of town, being out after dark in the wrong places, picking arguments with Colombianos).

Griz

[Bala]

Following up on the above comments.

OSAC (Overseas Advisory Security Council) which is an arm of the State Dept.'s Office of Diplomatic Security publishes a "Crime & Safety Report" periodically.

Here is last year's report on Colombia.
https://www.osac.gov/Reports/report.cfm?contentID=63537

It's a good summary of common types of crime in Colombia, safety tips for Americans and other visitors, and a list of contact phone numbers to call for help.

Thanks, GB

[HonkyTonk]

I think it should be required reading for newbies to go to the "Safety and Health Concerns" Forum and read away. Lot's of good info there!

[Charlie640]

"50K cases / yr !! "

I was also warned of this in MED by a Colombiano.
It definetely put a damper on my spirirts... Guy said I should
hold my breath if anyone I don't know approaches me or blows something in my face.

Maybe walking around in a N95 surgical mask is the answer.

[Sailover]

Taking precautions is good and important, but as you would be the ONLY one wearing a surgical mask down here, that MIGHT make all of your precautions moot. As we have said before, just be aware and confident without being cocky and you should be fine. The first time you stop to make sure no one is following you with a bag of blow is when you might be noticed. The two times I have been pickpocketed I was acting like a clumsy James Bond. It must have stood out like I was in a mask or something.