Police are investigating whether bootleg liquor is behind the deaths of 7 tourists in the Dominican Republic. Cops believe the tourists may have consumed poisoned liquor from the minibars in their hotel rooms.
Investigators want to know who supplied the liquor stored in small refrigerators in the hotel rooms where 7 tourists died over the past year.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and other international agencies have conducted extensive tests on the swimming pools, jacuzzis, air conditioning units, food areas and minibars at two Bahia Principe resort hotels where three tourists died, said the Dominican Ministry of Public Health.
Blood samples were collected from the deceased and shipped to the FBI research laboratory in Quantico, Virginia, the NY Post reports.
Most of the victims died from natural causes according to the medical examiner in the Dominican Republic. But the families say their loved ones were healthy.
Other victims fell ill after consuming drinks from the minibars in their rooms. The victims described symptoms similar to methanol poisoning – disorientation, confusion, headache, dizziness, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and a specific odor on the breath.
Methanol is a tasteless, odorless methyl alcohol that is found in antifreeze and windshield washer fluid. It is potentially deadly to humans. As little as 1 tablespoon of methanol can kill a man. Ingestion of small amounts of methanol can lead to blindness, brain damage, kidney failure and death from cardiac arrest.
Lawrence Kobilinsky, a forensic science professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in Manhattan, told the NY Post the deaths could be caused by tainted alcohol.
“Adulterated alcohol is usually methanol added to alcohol or just plain methanol, which is very, very toxic,” Kobilinsky said.
“It looks to me, from what I’ve heard and read, is that something was added to the drinks or bottles in those little refrigerators.
“There should be no methanol at all” in the liquor, Kobilinsky said. “If it’s there, it means it’s been … put there deliberately.”
But Hard Rock hotel bartender Angel Santana, 43, said allegations of poisoning are “not possible.”
“I have been working here for nine years, and everything here has always been very safe,” he said.
The hotel also said it buys only “unopened products from licensed and reputable vendors.”
But bottles of vodka in the minibars are on tap which means the bottles were opened before being placed inside the refrigerators.
The U.S. State Department issued travel advisories warning Americans to avoid consuming mixed drinks or cocktails from the hotel bars in developing countries.
Tourists are also cautioned to only buy liquor in sealed bottles or cans and that labels on bottles may not accurately reflect the contents inside.
I been called this
Yup. Said the same thing that happened in Mexico is now happening in the DR
Wow smh. So sad. Who wants to go on vacation and not drink? ?
So note to self…DO NOT DRINK THE KOOL AIDE!
Dully noted!!
Buy from duty free and make your own drinks.
There has been another death Leyla Cox from N.Y
Ikr, defeats the purpose.?
Also the brother of Barbara Cocoran died….she is one of the sharks on shark tank
#Lawsuit
Yup. But they’re claiming they cant do a toxicology report on her because the country’s toxicology machines are broken. Not sure I believe that.
https://nypost.com/2019/06/14/son-of-woman-who-died-in-dr-says-he-was-told-countrys-toxicology-machines-are-broken/
I work for a diagnostic company and you can send your tests out to another lab who DOES have working tox machines. Blood banks, labs, hospitals do it all the time. They tryna cover up some sh*t.
There is a serial killer at work…
Similar to the Tylenol with cyanide!
Vodka on tap? Whatever!
#doNotGoToDRtheyKillingTourists
Another woman reported dead. Went to DR on June 5th and died of a “heart attack” in her hotel room. She was 53 years old.
Just read a blind item that a celebrity went into the liquor biz but was having a hard time due to more established competition. The blind says that he hired people to work for his competitors and taint their liquor in an attempt to swoop in and Corner the market once people started taking ill. This seems far fetched but I wouldn’t put anything past anyone at this point.
The feds are domestic, I don’t trust that DR would allow a complete investigation. All the US laws are null in DR. Strange we are just hearing about all these deaths now, I’m sure there are more. What’s up with this country?
YEP! I JUST SAID THIS
Sandra lets you post links?? Im jealous??
I don’t trust foreign doctors, who knows what they are allowed to get away with without regulation.
Chile… Bring your own $hit! https://media1.giphy.com/media/Nww53qV1utOJW/giphy.gif
This is Beyond Scary….
Interesting theory, but unless all of the deaths can be definitively linked to that ONE provider, the scandal affects the entire market; thus no single provider can benefit.
I think it was last year that the same thing a happened in Mexico at a resort , a young lady died.
I was just thinking that. But can you bring your own liquor in your checked bag on the plane? I thought I saw something when I took a cruise that said you can’t bring your own liquor on the ship.
At this point, we definitely have someone on the inside doing ill deeds. Maybe a disgruntled employee? A hater of Americans or foreigners period? Just evil being, but yeah, it’s time to dig deeper.
You’re not supposed too, you can only bring wine. Buttttt, there are these fake ass shampoo bottles on amazon that I bought and poured all my liquor in. That’s worked the last 2 times I’ve cruised!
I was thinking it is a grimy person or team that is selling the bottles that should be in the minibar and recycling the empty bottles with methanol or other poisonous substances.
Agreed. I think this one is a reach, but stranger things have happened. Plus if they trace this back to one person/one company it would be disastrous for them. Not worth it at all.
Yup
My man and his friends just came back from DR last week. They flew, packed their own liquor in their checked bags and only drank beers while they were down there. They had no trouble.
I saw an article that said Barbara Corcoran from Shark Tank had a brother who died there also. I bet that they will try to figure it out now or she will pay for her own investigations
I have no clue, but something is being done maliciously. It’s sad. I’ve been several times and they have the mini refrigerators stocked with water, beer, Fanta, Cokes and they refill daily if you want them to do so. If and when I go back, I don’t think I’ll be getting anything out of those fridges. It’s frightening at this point.
I was scheduled to leave for the DR June 30th and return July 4th. But with the recent reports, I cancelled my trip. I had trip insurance so I was able to get a refund and should be getting it anyday. I don’t know about ya’ll, but I believe in a higher being and he giving too many signs right now. The sign for me is to stay my tail home or go somewhere else. Eventually I will return. But at this moment, they are having to many problems. I love it actually. I never had any issues down there. But warning comes before destruction tho.
they been doing it in mexico! i think another one just died a few weeks ago. they were supposedly taking the reviews down in travelocity where people were calling the resorts out. i lost track of what happened.
i’m wondering if all US citizens or other countries have dead folk too? seems like it’s JustUs.
i’m confused about vodka on tap…and why yall drinking from the minibar?https://media0.giphy.com/media/QjIz1AqkGTszK/giphy.gif
Ok cool—good tip. I mean it’s really nice to not have to go down to the bar and drink every time but I would much rather bring my own whether I’m cruising or flying.
Yeah that’s something I would do. I mean I’m not for drinking gauged priced liquor. Vacay or not.
But warning comes before destruction tho.
________________
My mamas favorite saying. I’m glad you took heed.
And I could be completely trippin’?? But I’m not going tho. The Dominican is normally my “happy place.” But nah…
They blaming this on moonshine??????
It’s over for DR tourism. Them hotels and flights gonna be cheap af
I dont blame you. Too much going on there.
That’s what I was about to say. If people are dying in one particular DR hotel, I’m not gonna just not go there and go to another one, I’m not gonna go to the DR period!
I thought everybody could post links. I just cut it from my browser, pasted it in the comment box, and clicked post. Never had a problem.
My boy getting married out there in August I had to let him know I’ll just be sending a gift lol.
I said the same thing but a lot of these all inclusive trips are coming with free access to the mini bar. It’s a good selling incentive but your life isn’t worth it.
You let your man go to the DR without you? Yall in an open relationship?
?
Prayerfully, all will go well. Pray before they go and buy their own liquor and drinks before they get to the resort.
When ever I travel out of country, I tend to be hesitant about eating and drinking out anyway. The FDA ain’t perfect but once you go to a country where there little to no food regulations you learn to appreciate it.
I was just telling someone the other day that these resorts remove bad reviews. And maybe people had been complaining about the vacation spots.
I swear fo’ God I was telling ppl to look at the liquor. No shock here. Any why do ppl say “I swear fo’ God“? I think it’s swearing BEFORE God…???
Even when I was Italy, I purchased my own wine and opened it myself. ?????
You have to be very careful.
Oh yeah. I thought that immediately. They use other liquids to stretch the liquor to save money. Remember…it’s all inclusive so they are cutting mad corners
Probably right! I don’t this it’s an evil person, but an uneducated greedy person trying to cone up on the low
Lol they were already cheap asf which was suspect to begin with. I keep getting these stupid Groupon offers for DR resort stays for under $1k that includes flight and hotel????? Anything that cheap in the Caribbean ain’t worth it…
Yup
If they see their liquor sales go down, they can taint the beer especially if they keep it on tap.
When you got to a 3rd world country especially you gotta be careful. If the people of that country are starving what makes you think they are really saving all the steak for you? They maybe serving you bushmeat or whatever and telling you its steak. There usually isn’t a regulatory agency to stop that in those country. My friend from Thailand mother had made soup and their was something crunchy in it. It was a damn chicken beak. That’s how they do over there everything goes in the pot.
tia:I had trip insurance so I was able to get a refund and should be getting it anyday
What kind of insurance is that?
The trip insurance I have read about there have to be specific circumstances under which you can get a refund and it’s a pain in the @ass.
Damn ya’ll sound like a bunch of alcoholics.
Ha,ha,ha!!!
I’m SO glad my friend brought his own drink when visiting the DR. I’ve lost enough already. R.I.P.
I always get my liquor from the airport after I’ve landed
The ‘high’ end resorts are usually safe. But if these deaths are due to criminal acts, tampering could happen anywhere….including the US. We all take for granted that our drinks are safe, but barring a safety seal, we’re always vulnerable.
To each his own but I do it all the time. Everyone had their own way of having fun. I prefer bring sober but I don’t judge ppl who drink but I get ridiculed for not drinking when I do all inclusive. Now I don’t feel bad for not drinking.
Like minds. When it’s too cheap, my spidey senses go up.
True. He said they bought bottles and watched them being opened, but you can only protect yourself so much. You do what you can and trust God for the rest.
No, we’re in a trusting marriage. I’m not worried about him. He’s loyal to the soil. Also, he’s a terrible germaphobe so the chances of some strange woman even rubbing up on him is low.
Your vulnerable with your food too. Look at how many restaurants in the USA get food scores of B and less. I have been in Tortola BVI and Cuba and the cats were walking thru some of the restaurants like what? Even the high end resorts. There’s no governing body thar makes them adhere to a foreigners expected levels of food safety. In Paris and England people would bring their dogs right on a restaurant have it drinking out,the glasses and all.
Lol
I don’t go to Turkey, Tripoli or Iran, for those same reason. I’ve have already been warned to stay my ass out of there. If you go to a place that you have been warned about then youre accepting the risk. Don’t sit and cry to God when youve been warned. That warning was Grace.
Ok. Every single one of my male friends that go there cheat. Even the ones I least expected from the ones that have gfs to the ones that have wives.
A friend of mine in Miami said his married friends pay for apartments in the DR for their 20-something girlfriends because the cost of living there is so cheap. So if you know any guys who travel frequently to the DR…
I mean it’s seem like the DR biggest export is sex. Sex with a man, female, regardless of age, its available in the DR. Any. man that wants to go to an island know for its sex trade industry needs to get the side ?.
I’m learning, smh
Idk why black people loooovvve the DR. Those folks are racist as all get out and they treat the Haitian horribly. They think they are better than the Haitians. The whole island is oppressed.
For sure! I know a guy that has a spot there. He has his friends come out and they have orgies. I have seen the pics and videos.
It is ridiculous and scary.
And this couldn’t possibly be a matter of being cheap because they could’ve just watered the drinks down with H2o like my son does to my liquor bottles…adding methanol is an deliberate attempt to kill people. Never been to the DR and never going.
but if the methanol is the same color of the drink you’re having adding that its tasteless and odorless…
You cut corners with koolaid and water…you trying to cut lives if you’re using methanol…
and they never give you the full amount…
Exactly! I never drink from the minibar and vodka on tap in a hotel room just sounds crazy! I would never.
Well it’s not completely when people dropping like flys over there
That’s the first thing that came to mind when the initial reports started to come out.
I’m confused, is it recycling if what you’re using even in very small tablespoon can kill somebody? I call it….a serial killer….I dunno….sh@its crazy.
Yup someone in the supply chain is buying cheap bootleg booze from a hustler who doesn’t give af.
Yes, you can bring your own liquor in your checked bags (at least on Delta) I do it ALL of the time on international and domestic flights.
you do get the full amount. This will be my second time cancelling.
I said it in a previous posts but I should’ve explained what I mean a little better. 1. Reusing empty bottles in the trash can when they do housekeeping.
2. Taking the real liquor in new bottles and selling or emptying them and refilling with poisonous substances.
I’ve never had a problem flying anywhere with full bottles of liquor in my checked bags.
A chicken beak?? ….I’m done…lmao..
Oh you went through a travel agency. Got it.
Damn y’all, now I don’t want to hear nobody else going to the DR singing ??Buy me a drank?? by T-pain.
LOL! IS you friend named Oscar?
My ex friend is getting married out that way in the same month.
Nah different person but I’ll risk it if you going ?
We always pack full bottles of liquor when we go on cruises and anywhere else. We just pack it in our checked luggage..no problem.
I guess i got a good one then.
I have a hard time feeling badly for people who travel to North Korea. I feel like they’re asking for problems or think they are invincible. Although the guy who came back a vegetable was a sad sad story.
I didn’t feel bad for the guy who got caned in the Phillipines. As I always say – don’t go to other countries breaking their laws. Haven’t they watched Locked Up Abroad?
I’ve been to the DR twice. Had a GREAT time!
However, you’d have to be Helen Keller not to see the signs. Like you, I’d be keeping my bikini as far away from there as possible.
Somebody is deliberately k1lling tourists.
RIGHT!!!
I’ve been twice and had a great time. Most of the people were very warm.
The kids beg, so that’s pretty sad.
Until somebody stops with the ‘Tourist Revenge’, I’ll stay at home.
Imma tell ya mama you on here ackin out…
If youre a tourist and at resorts, they know you have money but outside the tourist area they are very racist. They have clubs that you cannot get into if your are too dark. From what I understand is that if they think you are Haitian they will discriminate. Bleaching is considered good down their like sammy sosa and cake soap is plentiful.
L0L!! We ‘Germies’ save everyone else’s vacation buy bringing the Lysol spray.
Yep she’s got lonng money. She may have just accepted the report that he had a heart attack until all those others were reported.
broken at a time like this?? what kinda mess is that?
They need to get to the bottom of all this before their economy takes a dive.
I keep myself in well established territory. I used to be adventurous when I was younger but no more.
I’ve had no issues with Doms, but the Cubans In Miami were hateful!
That’s awesome
Lmao! Cute!
Nah, I’m staying my tail right here in ny with this measles outbreak and take my damn chances!
Now there is a history with that. Before the Revolution, Cuba was ran by the “White” Cubans and the Black Cubans were lower status. Castro along with Che Guevara rebelled against that and the White wealthy Cubans ran to Miami and other places to escape. They were the snooty Cubans that classified themselves as “White.” Thats why the Cubans in Miami were all Ricky Ricardo looking white. In Cuba, I was surprised that most of the people were Black like Amara La Negra.
He said his friends were dying laughing. They went to the beach and some tourist out there sneezed. He turned, ran and dipped his whole head and body in the ocean. I’m like, so the salt water is gonna kill it all?! My poor baby. ?
I felt like you just attacked me with that comment and I don’t like it ????. Leave us alone it makes it better ?. If you seen my face when I read what happened I was mortified ?. I wipe down everything while travelling. Lysol wipe toilet, handle, remote you name it
??
I feel you though. People are nasty and hotels have a revolving door of nastiness. Planes too. If you think about it too much you would never leave the house.
I see you didn’t study Immuno-ology, NewNew. Of course hubby did the right thing! Have you ever heard of a sneezing fish?? Coughing turtle? HIV+ squid?
Of course not!
*You amateurs…*
Lol, salt does work wonders in some situations. If nothing else it didn’t hurt.
I wipe down airplane seat head rest tv etc. I purposely don’t think too much because you’re right I won’t leave my house and I’m a homebody as is lol.
Trust us. It’s people like hubby & I that keep TB from invading your happy home.
Heard this as well.
I agree believe it’s a one or either two person team contaminating the alcohol.. but it shouldn’t have taken 6+ deaths for the authorities in U.S and DR to alert public.. so glad everyone coming forward now.. Is this information posted on Embassy site?
Don’t let your son ruin good liquor!
Because they have cheap hookers everywhere
Chilllll
The DR is a straight out racist country. They’ve ordered the death of Haitian immigrants and passed laws that forced them to leave the country. The way to strike back is not spend your black dollar there. Now they have people dying of “natural causes” there after throwing back a few drinks. No, thank you. I’ll have stay-cation in my nice comfy home.
Read up on the history of the country. A few years ago, they passed a citizenship law that forced many Haitians out and other can’t vote.
Interesting
Damn that’s the best lie they got.
L0l@ Ricky Ricardo looking white! Hey! Lay offa Rrickee!
The Cubans I encountered in most of the city were rude and underhanded uppity. I was shocked & disappointed.
I have a friend that is Black Cuban.
NO…I won’t!! Pay me!!
*hollas*Momma Chrisss!
U extortin me tho?! Go head tell her she been wanting some grand babies anyway ?
Yes she does…but by Miss Thelma’s daughter.
Exactly! This is messed up on so many levels and a cover-up is trying to be made.
I had enough when I saw “Hostel” & “Hostel 2”. IDGAF! I’ll just miss out. There’s no way!
I hat8 that they are gone and my prayers are with their loved ones, heartbreaking. RIP & justice will be found & given.
Black folk catching measles now?? Stay safe out here but I got you if u need some calamine lotion.
I went several years ago and I knew something was wrong with the liquor. I didn’t know it was deadly but I felt it was watered down. After a while I just stopped drinking bc it was pointless. And I starved the entire trip bc Hard Rock food sucked!! Never been back.
I believe the liquor was watered down when I went.
Amen!!! Hell! I lost weigh on my trip!!
No Lie ??
Yes its the liquor that was obvious. But explain the strange smell in one of the rooms. That tourist died right after they experienced the strange smell. Alcohol consumption was not mentioned there.
Here’s hoping.
Another American found dead in their hotel room in the DR. Leyla Cox, 53 she left for the DR June 5 and is dead now. Everybody loves the DR because its so cheap. A cheap trip isn’t worth my life. I can go to the Florida Keys and have just as much fun.
Lol idk, but I’m always cautious!!
Save that bottle of calamine , I might need it!?
this website is NICE!
I THINK methanol in very small doses is used to make bootleg liquor.
They are warm and friendly because you are spending your money.
I get it but its tough to do that when you spend $500 a night for an all-inclusive room. That takes a lot of discipline.
Did you see where they said the mini par bottles are on tap. So does that mean they fill them up at the hotel. You discard them and they clean them and fill them up again?
I just asked the same question. I need answers!
OMG I went to the Hard Rock for a wedding 3 years ago and the food was GROSS. Came back to NY with travelers diarrhea. I was sweating on the plane ride home and all. Had to go to urgent care after 2 days cause I kept saying this cant be life. Folks always say food on the resort is so plentiful yada yada. Yes its plentiful but its not good food esp coming from NYC. All I ate was salad and u know its washed in that filthy water. Drinks were warm i guess cause u cant drink the ice. Got in hot tub and drained it and water was BLACK like SOOT from a chimney.
?
Very true, but it’s a thing my fiance and I always do, we get lazy af after spending the whole day out and put it in water bottles or we just go str8 to the room and relax with my rum and his scotch on the rocks..to each their own
Water bottles! That’s a great idea!
Yass ain’t it!? Especially if you want to venture off the resort you’ll already have your beverage on deck while sightseeing