Street vs. Delivery: The Harsh Reality of Buying MDMA, Cocaine, and Tusi in Medellín

Medellín is a city that often conjures images of its violent past. Images of Pablo Escobar and his reign of terror over this city and coutry for 2 decades. Thanks to the glorification of Escobar in various retellings, it was Netflix's "Narcos, season 1-2 that tried to humanize Pablo Escobar, and the narco culture in Medellin. The city has since become a destination that some travelers consider to be free spirited drug experience, lured by tales of cheap prices and abundant supply. However, as the saying goes, you get what you pay for—and in Medellín, this applies tenfold when it comes to buying MDMA, cocaine, or Tusi (2CB).

I'm realistic, and I've learned that since Colombia reopened to the world post-COVID that no amount of warning will get people to stop rolling up peso billetes and going to town on cocaine. Basically, if you want to do it, you're going to do it. I can't stop you. However, I can warn you on the very harsh realities of buying not just cocaine, but the Colombian drug favorite, 2CB (Tusi) and MDMA from the street dealers and from the drug delivery services, yes they have these here.

The contrast between street-bought drugs and those acquired through reputable delivery services couldn’t be starker. While delivery services may present a safer and purer alternative, neither option is without risk. Let’s break down the harsh realities of each approach.

The Wild West of Street Dealers

Buying drugs on the street in Medellín might seem easy—dealers loiter in nightlife districts like El Poblado, hawking their wares to locals and tourists alike. But convenience comes at a high cost to your health, safety, and wallet.

Unpredictable Quality

Street drugs are notorious for being adulterated. MDMA capsules may be cut with everything from caffeine to methamphetamine, cocaine with levamisole or benzocaine, and Tusi—billed as pink cocaine but actually a mixture of various substances—with unknown chemicals that amplify its risks. The lack of regulation and transparency leaves users gambling with their health.

Safety Risks

Beyond what’s in the bag, there’s the question of how it’s sold. Purchasing drugs openly puts you at risk of being scammed, mugged, or worse. Encounters with corrupt police officers, who may extort you or arrest you, add another layer of danger.

The Appeal of Drug Delivery Services

In Medellín, a burgeoning network of drug delivery services has emerged, offering an ostensibly safer and more discreet way to obtain substances. These services operate through encrypted messaging apps or private recommendations, positioning themselves as the “premium” option.

Purity and Transparency

Delivery services often claim to provide purer products, sourcing drugs directly from labs or refining them further before sale. While users report higher consistency in quality compared to street dealers, this doesn’t eliminate risk. Buyers are still relying on anecdotal evidence and unverified purity tests.

Discretion and Safety

One key advantage is the reduced risk of violence or scams. Delivery services bring products directly to your door or a designated meet-up point, minimizing public exposure. However, involvement in such services is still illegal, and users should remain aware of potential legal repercussions. Let me be crystal clear here, if you get caught with any level of drugs here as a tourist, prepare for legal consequences. Your status and your freedoms don't mean anything here. Just an FYI.

The Purity Olympics

Now that we've established this, I want to go over how I ran this test. I purchased the street samples from a cigarette/gum vendor in Parque Lleras and one from a vendor in Provenza. For the delivery services, I purchased from the top 2 delivery services. I won't name them, but they are the 2 best. We got MDMA, Cocaine and Tusi from all, and the tests were run in 2 different labs, at the University of Antioquia. I wanted to test also at UC Berkeley, but for some reason that wasn't a realistic idea. Below are the purity numbers, as well as the other substances found.

MDMA

MDMA purchased on the street often contains dangerous adulterants like methamphetamine or PMA (paramethoxyamphetamine), which can lead to fatal overdoses.

• Street Sample 1: 74% "Expected MDMA" 19% PMA/Amptetamine 7% "Other"

• Street Sample 2: 71% "Expected MDMA" 12% PMA/Amphetamine 10% pseudoephedrine, 8% "Other"

• Delivery Sample 1: 63% "Expected MDMA" 29% pseudoephedrine, 3% PMA, 5% "Other"

• Delivery Sample 2: 70% "Expected MDMA" 22% pseudoephedrine, 4% PMA, 4% "Other"

Observations: Medellin is not the place to partake in MDMA. As you can see, it's all about 20-30% amphetmaines, which makes it not just ineffective, but also considerably more dangerous for you, increasing your chances of overheating and extreme dehydration. It also causes unpredictable changes to your serotonin levels. 2x this if you're drinking and dancing as well. Avoid this at all costs, there is no 'safe' option here.

Cocaine

Cocaine’s reputation for being “pure” in Colombia is often misleading. Street cocaine in Medellín frequently contains levamisole, a deworming agent linked to severe health issues like agranulocytosis (a dangerous drop in white blood cells). In addition to this, if you do get higher potency cocaine, the risk of an overdose goes up dramatically.

• Street Sample 1: 66% "Expected cocaine" 11% pseudoephedrine, .66% fentanyl, 6% stool softener, 3% talcum powder, 6% "Other"

• Street Sample 2: 72% "Expected cocaine" 9% pseudoephedrine, .68% fentanyl, 5% stool softener, 5% "Other"

• Delivery Sample 1: 91% "Expected cocaine" 4% baby laxative (mannitol), 5% "Other" (trace elements of diesel fuel)

• Delivery Sample 2: 94% "Expected cocaine" 2% baby laxative (mannitol), 4% "Other" (trace elements of gasoline)

Observations: Delivery services may offer higher-purity cocaine, but this in no way makes it safe. In addition to the addiction risks and potential damage to cardiovascular tissue and nasal tissue damage, the risk of an overdose is is extreme. There is a common misconception that if you drink to the point of being drunk and then doing a "bump" of cocaine will sober you up. If you play this game here, you're asking for issues. Not just alcohol poisoning, but cardiovascular issues from the combination of cocaine and alcohol. Also if you are someone that uses cocaine at home, then come here, you are probably ingesting something similar to the street sample's purity, if you come here and do more pure cocaine, you are setting yourself up.

Tusi (2CB)

Tusi is the riskiest drug to buy in Medellín. It’s never pure 2CB. Instead, it’s a cocktail of stimulants, hallucinogens, and synthetic chemicals that can vary wildly in potency, as you will see. Users frequently report extreme side effects, including paranoia, seizures, and heart complications

• Street Sample 1: 46% "Expected 2CB" 29% ketamine, 11% PMA/Amptetamine 1% fentanyl, 3% "Other" (including aspartme - fruit drink flavoring, expected to be "Frutiño")

• Street Sample 2: 49% "Expected 2CB" 27% ketamine, 11% PMA/Amptetamine <1% fentanyl, 7% "Other" (including aspartme - fruit drink flavoring, expected to be "Frutiño")

• Delivery Sample 1: 41% "Expected 2CB" 39% ketamine, <1% fentanyl, 4% PMA/Amptetamine, 7% "Other" (including aspartme - fruit drink flavoring, unknown type)

• Delivery Sample 2: 52% "Expected 2CB" 19% ketamine, 13% PMA/Amptetamine 1% fentanyl, 5% "Other" (including aspartme - fruit drink flavoring, expected to be "Frutiño")

Observations: Avoid Tusi at all costs. As I said in a previous article, THIS IS NOT FLAVORED PINK COCAINE! This is a terrible combination of drugs that is not beneficial to you and in my opinion is a huge part of why there has been an epidemic of tourists jumping to their deaths this year (READ THE OTHER ARTICLE HERE). Just looking at the fentanyl content alone, less than 1% and 1% doesn't sound like much, but that is a VERY high dosage. Be smart about this. If you have never done it, you have no idea how your body will react to it, and as you can see there is a wild variation of the purity. It also has fentanyl in it. If you drink and use Tusi, you are taking your life in your hands.

The Legal and Ethical Landscape

Regardless of how you acquire drugs in Medellín, it’s crucial to remember that drug possession remains illegal in Colombia. While personal-use laws may be more lenient than in other countries, foreigners caught with drugs face deportation, heavy fines, or imprisonment. If you are from the US, you can also be charged with a drug crime when you get home.

Moreover, supporting the illicit drug trade perpetuates a cycle of violence and exploitation in Colombia. Ethical considerations should weigh heavily on anyone thinking of partaking.

A Final Word of Caution

While Medellín’s reputation as a party destination may entice, the risks of drug use—particularly street-bought drugs—cannot be overstated. The health dangers, legal consequences, and ethical implications make it a high-stakes gamble. Is your life worth a high?

If you choose to partake, do so with caution and awareness. Better yet, embrace the city’s culture, landscapes, and vibrant nightlife without the need for chemical enhancement. Medellín has so much more to offer than what’s in a bag.