Tragedy struck in the southern Mexico state of Oaxaca as five individuals lost their lives after consuming a toxic potion during a Santeria 'power' ritual. The incident, which occurred in Oaxaca city, involved four men and one woman who were engaged in the practice of Santeria, a faith originating from Cuba that combines Yoruba spiritual beliefs with Roman Catholic traditions.
The victims, aged between 18 and 55, reportedly prepared and ingested the lethal concoction in an attempt to gain certain powers. Oaxaca state police chief, Iván García Alvarez, revealed that the individuals succumbed to poisoning shortly after consuming the potion, leading authorities to investigate the case as a group suicide.
Authorities discovered the bodies at a residence on the outskirts of Oaxaca city, showing no visible signs of injury. While tests are underway to identify the substances involved in the fatal incident, past rituals in Mexico have utilized toxic or hallucinogenic elements such as Devil's Trumpet and venom from the Colorado River toad.
Santeria has been linked to other instances of criminal activities in Mexico, including a case in 2018 where a man confessed to murdering multiple women and selling their bones to practitioners of the faith. Despite discrepancies in the suspect's initial claims, the association between Santeria and illicit practices raises concerns about the potential misuse of spiritual rituals.
