Word spread fast through Kiambu’s bustling Cleanshelf area when residents spotted a woman they believed was part of a notorious gang preying on unsuspecting people. Videos circulating online show a crowd restraining her on the ground, her hands bound, as voices accuse her of blowing a powdery drug into faces to make victims compliant. She pleads for mercy, promising to name her accomplices if they don’t harm her, while onlookers demand she reveal where the stolen goods are stashed.
The substance in question is scopolamine, street-named “Devil’s Breath,” a plant-derived chemical that wipes out willpower and memory, turning people into unwitting accomplices in their own robberies. In the explanatory clip attached to the incident footage, a woman warns how criminals approach strangers in public spots like matatus or streets, greet them casually, and blow the odorless powder. Victims then hand over phones, PINs, and even lead thieves home to empty their houses, waking up hours later with no recollection.
This isn’t isolated to Kiambu. Similar tactics have plagued Kenya for years, often dubbed “mchele” crimes where drinks are spiked in bars, but the powder form adds a stealthy twist. Back in 2022, Isiolo saw a spike in con artists using it to fleece locals, with victims losing cash and goods without a fight. Nairobi and Thika have reported cases too, like the DCI bust in March 2024 where two women drugged a clubber at VSpot Nightlife, spraying something on one suspect’s body to deepen the stupor before stealing ATM cards.
Originating from Colombia, where it’s infamous for bank heists and home invasions, scopolamine has medical uses for nausea but turns deadly in criminal hands. In Ecuador, recent alerts warn of attacks in urban areas, mirroring Kenya’s urban-rural spread. Here, gangs target M-Pesa agents and everyday folk, as seen in a May 2025 incident where a shop owner in an unspecified area lost everything after chatting with two women, handing over cash and begging for more float.
Locals in the video express fury, tying her up amid calls for justice, but police intervention is unclear from the clips. Online reactions range from relief at her capture to broader fears, with users sharing stories like a Kiambu mother drugged in a matatu, losing her phone without memory of it. Authorities have long cautioned against these schemes, urging people to avoid close contact with strangers and report suspicious behavior.
As crimes evolve, with women often fronting the operations to lower guards, communities like Kiambu are taking matters into their hands, but experts stress the need for official probes to dismantle the networks. For now, the incident serves as a stark reminder: a simple hello could cost everything in this era of chemical cons.
