Brazilian authorities have apprehended a 22-year-old escort suspected of drugging and robbing tourists, including multiple foreigners. The arrest took place in Rio de Janeiro’s South Zone as part of an operation conducted by officers from the Special Tourist Support Police Station and Ipanema’s 13th Precinct. The detained individual, Cláudio Rafael Silva de Queiroz de Pontes, had two outstanding arrest warrants related to robbery and criminal association. He was apprehended in Cabo Frio, a coastal town in Rio’s Lakes Region.
According to police reports, Cláudio was involved in a criminal group that targeted tourists, particularly homosexual men, using dating applications to entice victims to meet at beaches or bars. The victims were allegedly drugged with spiked beverages, following which the gang stole their money, phones, and other valuables, often depleting their bank accounts through transfers and withdrawals. Three alleged accomplices, comprising two men and one woman, are currently evading authorities.
One incident involved a Mexican tourist who encountered Cláudio through a dating app, leading to a meeting at Ipanema Beach, where the victim was subsequently drugged and robbed. Similar scams occurred with an Italian man losing £17,000 in June and two Chilean tourists losing approximately £2,100 in August in Copacabana. Another case involves a man from Pernambuco who lost over £8.5k and his phone after socializing with a gang member in a hotel on Avenida Atlântica.
Detective Patrícia Alemany, heading the Special Tourist Support Police Station, stated that the gang deliberately targeted individuals perceived as affluent, leveraging their appearance to attract victims, particularly foreigners or older men. She highlighted that the gang would often premeditate their crimes by preparing drugged drinks in advance.
Law enforcement is actively pursuing the remaining suspects, while Cláudio is currently in custody at the José Frederico Marques Public Prison in Benfica awaiting a judicial hearing. Details of his statement have not been disclosed, and attempts to reach his legal representatives have been unsuccessful.
