Ryan Duffy, a journalist, travels to Bogota, Colombia, to investigate the notorious burundanga, also known as scopolamine. The plant is used to make a powerful drug that can render people helpless and susceptible to suggestions, making it a popular tool for thieves, kidnappers, and rapists. Duffy meets with locals, visits the Botanical Gardens, and interviews a toxicology expert to learn more about the plant and its effects. He also discovers that scopolamine has been used in various ways throughout history, including in interrogations and as a truth serum. As Duffy delves deeper into his investigation, he becomes increasingly uneasy and eventually decides to dispose of a sample of the plant, feeling that it's not worth the risk of exposure.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Burundanga is a source of scopolamine, a powerful drug.
2. Scopolamine can eliminate a person's free will, making them susceptible to suggestions while still being conscious and articulate.
3. The borrachero tree, which contains scopolamine, is indigenous to the Northern Andean region, including Colombia, Ecuador, and Venezuela.
4. The tree has been used by the indigenous people in the area for various purposes, including as a truth serum and for eliminating mistresses.
5. Josef Mengele used scopolamine in his interrogations during World War II.
6. The CIA tried to use scopolamine as a truth serum during the Cold War.
7. Scopolamine is often linked to sex crimes, including prostitution and rape.
8. The drug is commonly used in Colombia, particularly in Bogota.
9. One in every three kidnappings in the world occurs in Colombia.
10. Colombia has a long history of civil war and guerrilla warfare.
11. The country is also known for its high homicide rates and narco-trafficking.
12. The Botanical Gardens in Bogota has a collection of the borrachero tree.
13. The seeds of the borrachero tree are used to make scopolamine.
14. Scopolamine can cause hallucinations and is often used as a date rape drug.
15. The drug has been used in various ways throughout history, including as a means of eliminating mistresses and as a truth serum.
16. The CIA and other organizations have experimented with scopolamine for its potential uses.
17. The drug is highly potent and can have severe effects on a person's behavior and actions.