Police in Brazil have filed charges against three women fugitives accused of drugging and robbing two British tourists in a viral beach video.
The incident, caught in footage that went viral worldwide, unfolded on iconic Ipanema Beach in Rio de Janeiro on 8th August.
Officers from the Special Tourism Assistance Unit (Deat) named those charged as Amanda Couto Deloca, 23, Mayara Ketelyn Americo da Silva, 26, and Raiane Campos de Oliveira, 27, and said arrest warrants had been issued for all three.
They have been formally accused of qualified robbery and criminal association, and remain on the run as police continue efforts to track them down.
The women were identified after a teenage food delivery driver saw one of the British students staggering before collapsing on the sand.
He filmed the scene on his mobile phone and then called emergency services to help the two unconscious tourists.
The footage later helped the victims confirm the women as the ones who had given them spiked drinks.
Police say the trio are part of a “Good Night, Cinderella” gang that has targeted visitors from the UK, France, the USA, and Argentina in nightlife districts.
The gang’s method involves approaching tourists in bars, offering drinks laced with drugs, and robbing them once they lose consciousness, often within 30 minutes.
Victims have reported waking up hours later in their accommodation to find phones, cash, bank cards, and watches gone, along with large sums transferred from their bank accounts.
The British men from the latest incident told police they met the women in a bar where they were given caipirinhas.
They remembered nothing after drinking them.
Police said around GBP 20,000 was moved from one of the victim’s phones account during the robbery, but only about GBP 2,000 was spent before the funds were frozen.
Around GBP 18,000 has since been recovered.
The young engineering students, who preferred to remain anonymous, were celebrating their graduation in Brazil when they were targeted by the female trio.
One of the women, Campos de Oliveira, has 20 prior criminal records and previously served six months in prison for a similar case.
She was acquitted last month in another robbery case due to lack of evidence.
(Mike Leidig / newsX)
NewsX-BritsRios-02.jpg Copyright: Newsflash/NX
Description: Archive Picture | Picture shows the British men enjoying their time in Rio, Brazil, undated. Then they fell for the 'goodnight Cinderella' scam in Ipanema. Note: Private photo. (Newsflash/NX)
NewsX-BritsRios-06.jpg Copyright: Newsflash/NX
Description: Archive Picture | Picture shows the British tourists victims to a scam in Rio, Brazil, undated. The incident took place in Ipanema. Note: Image is a screenshot from video. (Newsflash/NX)
NewsX-BritsRios-07.jpg Copyright: Newsflash/NX
Description: Archive Picture | Picture shows the British men after the scam in Brazil, undated. They fell for the 'goodnight Cinderella' scam in Ipanema. Note: Image is a screenshot from video. (Newsflash/NX)
NewsX-BechRobery-02.jpg Copyright: Newsflash/NX
Description: Archive Picture | Picture shows the suspects Amanda Couto Deloca, 23; Mayara Ketelyn Americo da Silva, 26; and Raiane Campos de Oliveira, 27, undated. They are call girls. Note: Private photo. (Newsflash/NX)
NewsX-BechRobery-01.jpg Copyright: Newsflash/NX
Description: Archive Picture | Video shows the drugged British tourist left on the sand of Ipanema Beach, Brazil, Aug. 8, 2025. The footage also shows the three suspects running and getting into a taxi. Note: Photo is a screenshot from a video(Newsflash/NX)
NewsX-BritsRios-03.jpg Copyright: Newsflash/NX
Description: Archive Picture | Picture shows the British man enjoying his time in Rio, Brazil, undated. Then he fell for the 'goodnight Cinderella' scam in Ipanema. Note: Private photo. (Newsflash/NX)
NewsX-BritsRios-01.jpg Copyright: Newsflash/NX
Description: Archive Picture | Picture shows the British men enjoying their time in Rio, Brazil, undated. Then they fell for the 'goodnight Cinderella' scam in Ipanema. Note: Private photo. (Newsflash/NX)
NewsX-BritsRios-04.jpg Copyright: Newsflash/NX
Description: Archive Picture | Picture shows one of the British tourists victim of a scam in Rio, Brazil, undated. The incident took place in Ipanema. Note: Image is a screenshot from video. (Newsflash/NX)
NewsX-BritsRios-05.jpg Copyright: Newsflash/NX
Description: Archive Picture | Picture shows one of the British tourists victim of a scam in Rio, Brazil, undated. The incident took place in Ipanema. Note: Image is a screenshot from video. (Newsflash/NX)
NewsX-BechRobery-06.jpg Copyright: Newsflash/NX
Description: Archive Picture | Picture shows one of the suspects, undated. She is a call girl. Note: Private photo. (Newsflash/NX)
NewsX-BechRobery-07.jpg Copyright: Newsflash/NX
Description: Archive Picture | Picture shows one of the suspects, undated. She is a call girl. Note: Private photo. (Newsflash/NX)
NewsX-BechRobery-08.jpg Copyright: Newsflash/NX
Description: Archive Picture | Picture shows one of the suspects, undated. She is a call girl. Note: Private photo. (Newsflash/NX)
NewsX-BechRobery-03.jpg Copyright: Newsflash/NX
Description: Archive Picture | Video shows the drugged British tourist left on the sand of Ipanema Beach, Brazil, Aug. 8, 2025. The footage also shows the three suspects running and getting into a taxi. Note: Photo is a screenshot from a video(Newsflash/NX)
NewsX-BechRobery-04.jpg Copyright: Newsflash/NX
Description: Archive Picture | Video shows the drugged British tourist left on the sand of Ipanema Beach, Brazil, Aug. 8, 2025. The footage also shows the three suspects running and getting into a taxi. Note: Photo is a screenshot from a video(Newsflash/NX)
NewsX-BechRobery-05.jpg Copyright: Newsflash/NX
Description: Archive Picture | Picture shows the three suspects running and getting into a taxi Aug. 8, 2025. Note: Photo is a screenshot from a video(Newsflash/NX)
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Byline Journalist: Mike Leidig
Byline Sub editor: Simona Kitanovska
Byline Spotter: Ivica Stojanovski
Byline Commisioning Editor: Mike Leidig
Byline Senior Writer: Mike Leidig
Byline Copychecker: Angela Trajkovska
Byline Illustrator: Angela Trajkovska
Byline News Editor: Mike Leidig
Geography: Ipanema
Subject: Business, Tourism Business, Legal, Crime, Society
