The Judicial Investigation Police (OIJ) arrested three sex workers in Jacó who allegedly got wise and decided drugging their johns and robbing them was better than sleeping with them.

The three women, with the last names Amador, Lezcano and Cortés, have been affectionately named “Las Dormilonas,” or the Sleepyheads, by law enforcement officials. They were arrested Monday after allegedly robbing more than ¢40 million (about $80,000) from at least 15 foreigners, mostly U.S. citizens, according to a police press release. Las Dormilonas have since been released but are scheduled to appear in court on Feb. 13.

OIJ spokeswoman Marguerita Morales said blood tests revealed the alleged victims had high levels of benzodiazepine, a sedative, in their blood. Benzodiazepine is what the anti-anxiety drug diazepam (more popularly known as Valium) is derived from, according to a search of online medical websites.

She also said the women offered a $500 discount price to attract three men at a time into their schemes. Their normal price was $200 per person, she said.

Jacó Police Chief Clever Paco said authorities were depending on one witness, a U.S. citizen, to come forward and testify against the women on Feb. 13. He said getting other victims to come forward has proven difficult because they were too embarrassed to publicly admit using prostitutes.

“They're embarrassed because some of them are engaged,” he said.

Morales said the only U.S. witness is named Borna Poustani and that he is developing a hotel in the Jacó area.

Paco said the prostitutes were not from Jacó and had been traced to San José.

“Most of the crime in Jacó is from elsewhere,” he said.