'mules' Carrying Drugs From South America To Europe...

[sandyRoe]

The recent drug-related arrest of two young women from the UK in Peru made me wonder how many get through to deliver their cocaine. There must be some or the 'Mr Bigs' would recruit them.
Could there be a more nerve-racking way to earn money?

[sandyRoe]

^ 'wouldn't' rather than 'would'

[janbee]

I agree. I think even if only one or two get through, it must make it all financially worthwhile.

[FredPuli43]

Indeed, and when two young women can carry over a million pounds' worth, the difference between what they would be paid and the profit is enormous. But you could afford to lose a few of the loads and still make good profit. We don't hear of many such cases, though , admittedly, one involving British people is likely to get far more publicity

[EDDIE51]

The 'Mr Bigs' do not give a t*ss how many 'mules' get caught , the cocaine costs a few £s say £50 in Columbia but is worth £millions if it gets to Europe.
Even if 95% get caught there is still a gigantic profit to be made.
Personally I think the majority do get caught , the authorities know too well what to look for and with sniffer dogs and the rest capture is near certain.

[AlwaysConfused]

I don't know why people would risk doing their life, there freedom and also their conscience (through transporting lethal drugs). I only heard about the story this morning, so I do not know any facts, but I think these woman must have been forced into doing this.

[FredPuli43]

A visit to Uxbridge magistrates' court may well introduce you to the sight of mules caught at Heathrow. As a category, they seem to be those mules who are carrying the drugs internally, in condoms and so forth, they are young, and detected by immigration and customs officers because their travel records suggest drug dealing; they have, for example, got several trips to places where drugs are supplied or, typically, they have an unusual route from, say, Ghana to Colombia and then London.

Not often you see one in the category of the women in this case, with such a quantity. But their movements probably gave rise to suspicion, confirmed by any explanation for those movements. Two youngsters, working in night clubs, turn up on a whim in Peru, for a short time, without any evident wealth or means of support ?

[friedgreentomato]

They claimed when stopped that they were backpacking - not a backpack between them and too short a time in Peru to do any actual backpacking!!

[douglas9401]

The risk may be worthwhile if caught in the UK with it's touchy-feely justice regime and well publicised fractions of sentences being served.
There may also be a perception that South American countries are rife with corruption so after flashing some cash there'll be no problem. Looks like things may be on the change down there.
In any event they were certainly caught in the wrong place as far as a fairly easy ride goes.

[ummmm]

My mates daughter got caught smuggling drugs. She got caught simply because of her travel arrangements.

[modeller]

According to another woman who had been a mule said she doubted their excuse was genuine because there were plenty of girls only too willing to have a go. She said drug trafficking was widespread in all the clubs in Ibiza and there was just no need for anyone to be forced. It sounded from her description that the police turned a blind eye to most of these activities.

[friedgreentomato]

Yes Ummm they are normally easy to spot.

Last minute bookings, very little hold luggage and a quick turn around.

[FredPuli43]

Yes, Douglas, it's common for mules to be told that nothing much will happen to them here if they get caught; they may even be told that they will be detained briefly and then deported. Unfortunately, the reality is very different, though a bit less harsh than being caught in Peru or Malaysia!

[netibiza]

Believe me, the police (Guardia Civil) do their best to sort out all this drug nonsense, Gone are the days when they were involved. It is the British who are behind all this, there are two groups from Liverpool and Manchester who even have gun fights on our streets, and rule the drug business here. But they are very clever and it is hard to get the top man. People are being arrested all the time, but this is not the only crime the Police are fighting on the island. There are not enough police here on the island as most of them do not want to live here as it is too expensive (same with teachers) .

There is no way these girls were forced to do the drug run, we do have very strict airport searches, I couldn't even take a sponge cake through!

Just stupid silly girls, it's been done before and will be done again!

[emmie]

big profits for the dealers, drug cartels, little compensation for the idiot mules who carry the stuff, considering the sentences meted out. Isn't one woman languishing in prison on a death sentence, not heard any more about that case.

[friedgreentomato]

emmie are you talking about the british grandmother in Thailand?

[emmie]

think so, is she still there?

[friedgreentomato]

Yup she has a death sentence, I believe she was the ringleader!

[emmie]

what a stupid stupid woman...

[friedgreentomato]

She sure is, as a legal secretary you would expect her to have more common sense.

[ummmm]

I have no sympathy for her (except the death sentence bit which I don't agree with)