Chilean actor Alex Araya was found deceased in his Colombian Airbnb, with suspicions suggesting he may have fallen victim to the drug burundanga.
His body was discovered on June 7 by a cleaning lady in Medellin. According to reports from La Tercera, the night before his death, Araya had been on a Tinder date with two women, as shared by his brother Eduardo.
Araya and the women returned to the Airbnb around 11:30 p.m., but only the women emerged two hours later, having allegedly stolen Araya’s credit cards and phone for Uber rides and jewelry purchases.
Araya’s death marks the 29th foreigner fatality in Medellin this year, prompting concerns that he might have been targeted with burundanga.
This drug, also known as scopolamine, can induce prolonged unconsciousness and, in higher doses, lead to respiratory failure and death, according to a U.S. State Department advisory released in June 2023.
The department reported a surge in incidents where sedatives were used to drug and rob victims, with approximately 50,000 unconfirmed cases in Colombia last year alone.
Araya’s brother suspects there may be additional perpetrators involved, suggesting they operate within a group dedicated to such crimes, as reported by La Tercera.
Colombian authorities are currently pursuing leads to apprehend the suspects involved in this tragic incident.
