Medellín continues to make headlines. On March 27, 2026, the body of Erick Molina, an American Airlines flight attendant was found 100 kilometers south of Medellín. Erick had been a victim of a very popular drugging scam in Medellín: Scopolamine. It is a natural drug that is found in the Brugmansia plant family. The plant is most commonly known as floripondio, or more appropriately, borrachero. On occasion, doctors use it to treat motion sickness, but if ingested in large quantities, a person loses their ability to make decisions and can voluntarily give up their personal information. There have been countless news articles, documentaries, and interviews made about the dangers of this drug.
Danger is relative. Gun violence is something to be worried about in the United States; not so much in Colombia. Colombia has it’s own unique set of dangers that can affect you if you aren’t careful. Your best bet is not to look for sex and drugs. Locals would consider you are “giving papaya” and pursuing the quickest way down the Medellín crapshoot if you choose any of the later activites.
But “giving papaya” isn’t the only way to get yourself in trouble. Often times, people romanticize Latin American hospitality. People like to think that people are more hospitable, kind, and warm. While that might be true, it is a proven method local criminal organizations use to earn your trust and commit their crime. Please be cautions because amigo, el ratón del queso!
