United Kingdom authorities have formally arrested Colombian businesswoman Zulma Guzman Castro after being notified of the Interpol red notice issued against her for her alleged responsibility in the thalium poisoning of two girls in Bogota in April 2025. With her arrest, the extradition process to Colombia has officially been activated. Guzman is expected to face charges of aggravated homicide and attempted homicide.
Fugitive Zulma Guzman arrested in the UK
Sources from Interpol Colombia confirmed that the notification and provisional detention took place once Guzman regained consciousness and was discharged from medical care, following her hospitalization in London. She had been admitted to a medical facility after jumping into the River Thames on Dec. 17, 2025, an apparent suicide attempt.
According to the information available, once doctors certified that Guzman was in adequate physical and mental condition to be released and face criminal proceedings, she was transferred to a police unit. She is now expected to be brought before a British judge in the coming hours for the formal validation of her arrest, a necessary step before extradition hearings begin.
Who is Zulma Guzman and what is she accused of?
Colombian prosecutors have identified her as the main suspect in allegedly sending raspberries (or chocolates containing raspberries) contaminated with thallium, a highly toxic heavy metal, which were consumed by the victims. Two girls, Emilia Forero and Ines de Bedout, aged 13 and 14, respectively, died after ingesting the products.
In addition to the fatalities, other people who consumed the same raspberries were also severely poisoned but survived. Investigators believe the incident was not accidental and are preparing to bring charges of aggravated homicide and attempted homicide.
The British tabloid Daily Mail had suggested that the deaths of the two girls may have been motivated by revenge, allegedly linked to a long-running and secret relationship between the businesswoman and Ines’ father, Juan de Bedout.
According to the report, the relationship began in 2014 and ended shortly before the death of Bedout’s wife, Alicia Graham Sardi, who died at age 50 on Aug. 17, 2021, with reports indicating that thallium was found in her system.
The Daily Mail added that in the months leading up to Bedout’s wife’s death, the woman experienced symptoms such as hair loss and persistent leg pain, which have been associated with exposure to toxic substances.
Prosecution begins
Last Friday, the first preliminary hearing in the criminal case against Guzman Castro took place in Colombia. According to the prosecution, Guzman’s first recorded trip occurred on April 13, 2025, when she traveled to Argentina, just 10 days after the deaths of the two teenage girls.
The prosecutor also warned that information related to Guzman’s travels had been deleted from official systems, creating obstacles for the investigation.
In addition to aggravated homicide, Guzman could also face charges related to concealment, alteration, or destruction of evidence, attempted personal injury, and other criminal offenses connected to the case.