Brazilian authorities have apprehended a 22-year-old escort suspected of drugging and stealing from tourists, including numerous foreign nationals. Termed as a series of “Goodnight, Cinderella” schemes in Rio de Janeiro’s South Zone, law enforcement officers from the Special Tourist Support Police Station (DEAT) and Ipanema’s 13th Precinct confirmed the apprehension of Cláudio Rafael Silva de Queiroz de Pontes on Thursday.
The individual, who purportedly masqueraded as a male escort, was sought for two pending arrest warrants related to theft and criminal collaboration. He was apprehended in Cabo Frio, a coastal resort town in Rio’s Lakes Region.
Authorities indicate that Cláudio is affiliated with a group that targeted tourists, particularly homosexual men, by enticing victims through dating applications for gatherings at beaches or bars. Allegedly, victims were drugged with spiked beverages upon meeting the gang, who then absconded with money, phones, and other valuables, often depleting their bank accounts via transfers and withdrawals. Three purported accomplices, comprising two men and one woman, are currently evading capture.
One incident traces back to May when a Mexican tourist encountered Cláudio on a dating app and agreed to a rendezvous at Ipanema Beach. Following shared drinks, the visitor lost consciousness and later regained awareness disoriented, aided by street vendors who escorted him to a police station, as reported by Brazilian outlet G1.
In subsequent occurrences, an Italian man in June and two Chilean tourists in August fell victim to similar scams, losing substantial sums of money after being drugged. Another ongoing investigation involves a Pernambuco man who lost his phone and over £8.5k following a drinking session with a gang member at a hotel on Avenida Atlântica.
Detective Patrícia Alemany, leading DEAT, stated that the gang specifically targeted individuals they perceived as affluent. She remarked, “They utilized their attractiveness to allure victims, many of whom were foreigners or older men. Sometimes, they did not even charge for the meeting since, after reviewing the victim’s profile, they knew he possessed financial resources.”
Authorities are conducting searches to apprehend the remaining suspects. Cláudio has been transported to the José Frederico Marques Public Prison in Benfica for a scheduled custody hearing on Friday. The contents of his statement remain undisclosed by authorities, and local journalists have been unsuccessful in contacting his legal representatives.