Nigerian women make a large contribution to the remaining figure. With many publications on Mule to her name, Caroline has distinguished herself as a fountain of knowledge from which many draw from. You can buy a healthy mule for $1000 to $3000. Another drug mule for the Sinaloa cartel was a 57-year-old man from Oklahoma named Walter Ogden. So basically you might want to reconsider going on a quick trip to Indonesia for three days to deliver a hold-all to your friend's brother's cousin outside the Metropole Hotel. The going rate for a kilogram of cocaine in the United States is $25000. Nicolas Cristin, the Dark Web does anywhere between $300,00 and $500,000 in sales per day. With crackdowns by border patrol and government agencies and efforts being made to lock down borders (such as the proposed border wall between Mexico and the U.S.), those involved in the drug trade continue to explore other, more dangerous methods of smuggling. How much does a drug mule make in a lifetime? If you believe you have a medical emergency, you should immediately call 911. Based on public records, a large volume of seizures is related to drugs being trafficked not only through major airports, but also through U.S. mail and other carriers. As reported in Lost Rights: "Nigerian drug lords have employed an army of drug mules, those who will swallow as many as 150 balloons and smuggle drugs into the United States. Kevin Nelson, of Bellingham, Wash., holds a sign that reads "Drug War Ends Here," outside Top Shelf Cannabis, Tuesday, July 8, 2014, in Bellingham, Wash. on the first day of legal pot sales in the . However, if trends continue, we may see more of a decline in border-related deaths. Did you find being in a foreign prison tough? What is the average amount a drug mule makes? Eventually, one of my friends sounded the alarm to my family that I was missing and they got the police involved. AMA. PODCAST | Bingeing Without Borders (Episode 6): South Africa, Podcast series: click here to find them all, PODCAST | Bingeing Without Borders (Episode 5): Nigeria, PODCAST | The Story: Climate change, tavern deaths and a serial arsonist - a look back at 2022, PODCAST | Bingeing Without Borders (Episode 4): India. Leo Sharp used over 15 different aliases as a mule. Im quite lazy, so Ill always be more attracted to easy, risky money than to hard-earned risk-free money. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. What was he like? Again, it shouldve felt scarier than it did. A drug mule can make up to tens of thousands of dollars per trip. He tells me to stay put with the car and as soon as he calls me to head over there with the car. You're asking why the cartel would allow a mule to explain himself, well that's because I wasn't your average mule. 3 times exactly. Detroit D.E.A. In this report, well share data showing common points of drug entry, arrests, and how the illicit drug trade has impacted the U.S. The average amount a drug mule makes is a couple hundred to a couple thousand dollars. Some of the most common places included drugs being hidden in the gas tank and inside the seats of the vehicle. This is especially true of, This increase in drug use is paralleled by the elevated seizures of illicit drugs along U.S. borders, with heroin seizures. According to the CDC, the U.S. saw a 137% increase in drug overdose-related deaths between 2000 and 2014. Youve seen it so often in the movies: 80 swallowed, We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred. Of these 51 cases, 36 had information related to the type of vehicle used to transport drugs. Life is cheap to drug traffickers. The price is usually determined by how often the mule has won competitions, how often it appears in shows, how old it is, and how trained it is. Journalism strengthens democracy. I was given a state lawyer who was very reassuring and had worked on similar cases before. posing as a tourist, but not having any idea about tourist attractions. . What you have to realise about middle-class white mules, sometimes called "clean skins" because we have no criminal record and look innocent, is that we are a real asset for these guys. What is the maximum amount a drug mule can make? When did you decide to do it again? The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has found. How many different safe houses did Leo Sharp use as a mule. You eventually do get caught. Sharp carted between 450 and 550 pounds of cocaine into his home state of Michigan each month. , and continued drug trafficking into the U.S. has led to a growing number of overdoses among American citizens even children. Seven or eight times, over a six month period. The balloons are made with multilayered condoms and are often force fed to the victim. I like it very much. The DEA agent was wearing a kevlar vest with DEA in gold on the back of it. I think that was probably a part of why I kept doing it. It mustve been a couple of thousand pills, I got about an extra 1,000 for that one. I'll get to you eventually. France, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden, Latvia, Finland, Iceland, Estonia. I shouldve kept quiet and just left, but there we go. There are, and trusted professionals who can offer advice and guidance to help you in your fight. The information provided through Detox.net should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease. Well the job wasnt in Rome, it was in Spain, and consisted of taking 2kg of cannabis from Spain to Sweden, via Latvia. Cases were identified through Westlaw to be related to drug mules or drug trafficking charges. I had the option to smuggle it myself, but I'd rather hire someone else and just give them a percentage of the sale. Or might not want to know you. I was the middleman between the cartel and clients. I came back to the UK and started buying cocaine again. Is it common for drug mules to be caught? However, if trends continue, we may see more of a decline in border-related deaths. . Your life is of no importance to them at all. I walk into the lobby and immediately notice a Police Officer and a DEA agent. A drug mule can make a lot of money by making multiple trips. It was a lot of fun. For 14 free days, you can have access to a world of in-depth analyses, investigative journalism, top opinions and a range of features. He told me it was easy enough, so that was reassuring. But here are more of the things the people recruiting you choose not to tell you. This data is unsettling given the dangers of illicit drug use, especially the harmful nature of heroin and meth. With crackdowns by border patrol and government agencies and efforts being made to lock down borders (such as the proposed border wall between Mexico and the U.S.), those involved in the drug trade continue to explore other, more dangerous methods of smuggling. I ended up reading a lot, I read the entire works of Shakespeare which my mum had sent me. They may be promised a large sum of money for their involvement but the reality is that they are putting their lives at risk. With many publications on Mule to her name, Caroline has distinguished herself as a fountain of knowledge from which many draw from. How much did The Mule make per run? The women are often from poor communities and are viewed as dispensable by the drug lords. Hey, Reddit! People attempt to cross the border from Mexico for a number of reasons with the vast majority seeking asylum, though some are involved (voluntarily or through coercion) in the trafficking of drugs. But the seed for Clint Eastwood's "The Mule," which opens Friday, was planted by the infamous Michigan bust of an elderly drug mule for a cocaine pipeline between Mexico and Detroit. This has led to an increase in the utilization of people as drug mules, which includes the dangerous act of swallowing packages filled with drugs (. How much did Leo Sharp weigh when he was arrested? The other bricks are being bought by my boss's clients. A high volume of trafficking has been found in other major cities including Atlanta, Detroit, and New York City. Thats why I wanted to go out smuggling again. I explained my situation and he asked if I wanted to stay with him. How much do drug mules make. The cartels dont always opt for sophisticated stealth, though. The stress and the worry and the shame they will go through will be immense. This was the 2nd time I introduced my buyers to my bosses. But never forget that however grim your life might be, it will be lot worse if you're sharing a small cell with 20 lice-infested people who don't speak your language, if you're starving, filthy, on death row, and have lost all hope. Prefer texting to talking on the phone? The purchasing price of a mule ranges from under $1,000 to somewhere around $8,000; however, most mules are sold between $1,000 and $3,000. to distract and mislead border patrol to get larger shipments of drugs smuggled across the border. I had this ridiculous view of life that money and opportunity would just fall into my lap. Those packets are: 4x3x2 cm. It all seemed way too easy. Huge psychological damage. Being able to provide proof on this was kind of tricky. So If I went down then there goes a huge client. 2022.9.1 (Bell); 2022.9.2 (Bridle) The term "drug mule" typically refers to someone who personally transports illegal drugs. BELMONT COUNTY, Ohio ( WTRF) Belmont County prosecuting attorney Kevin Flanagan announced Wednesday that on Monday, a woman entered a plea of guilty to drug trafficking. The chances of the SA embassy getting involved are slim. r/IAmA 5 yr. ago. I think the mark-up from Spain to Sweden is quite large; they buy it for around 500 ($556), and it sells for something around 4,000 ($4,450). AMA . All rights reserved. When I went to pick up my bag from reclaim it wasnt there. However, the same court documents we researched showed that some smugglers create false or hidden compartments to conceal drugs. More than 4 ounces up to 5 pounds - 180 days to 2 years jail time. Journalism strengthens democracy. Between border seizures and the legalization of marijuana in some areas of the U.S., the cartels are turning toward heroin and meth to keep their trade alive. I mostly operated within the states, but from time to time I would smuggle from Mexico. Update 2021: Well, I don't expect anyone to see this, but I went to prison for my crimes. The costs are influenced by some factors such as the age of the animal, the number of competitions won, the number of appearances . Edit 2: I want to address something a lot of you have been asking. Despite a continued effort among many nations to crack down on drug trafficking, the misuse of illicit drugs continues at an alarming rate. The majority of drug mules are male, but the number of women doing this, is on the increase. However its unclear how much of that money he actually kept as he was working for a cartel and likely had to give a large portion of his earnings to his bosses. Getting addicts the help they need can put a dent into the system that causes so much suffering or at least remove that individual from the deadly chain. Leo Sharp transported cocaine through over 20 different states as a mule. In foreign prisons many things are run on bribes. Then I met this West African guy at a bar and we became friends. They give me a little burner phone, which has all the information I needed on it. He didnt explicitly talk about the drugs, but it was obvious. SA prisons are like 5-star luxury hotels in comparison to what you would find in countries such as Venezuala, Mauritius and Thailand. Although I really hurt my friends and family, and that upsets me. Agent 1: What kind of car are you driving, is it here? How much were you being paid? Before considering doing a drug run, do weigh up the staggering consequences if you get caught. Stomach acids can sometimes cause this. CRIS BOURONCLEGetty Images. The fear of terrorism, brought extensive hiring of border patrol agents, and additional walls were built at key crossing points into the U.S. . . Ever. The data were gathered from over 150 court cases related to drug mules or drug trafficking charges. Under 2ounce is a Class B crime - 180 days in country jail. Leo Sharp used over 50 different phone numbers as a mule. Also, if you're running drugs, you are in contact with a scary underworld of people for whom murder and extortion or hurting your family are simply part of an everyday job. Leo Sharp used over 30 different cars as a mule. I mostly operated within the states, but from time to time I would smuggle from Mexico. Any lawyers who offer help want huge amounts of money. A. I wasn't scared or nervous, I'm not really sure what I felt. The mode of transportation can also affect earnings . Whether this is a lot or a little is a matter of opinion. There was one afternoon I went to the bar to enjoy my day off. Feeding costs are slashed when an owner has a pasture for a mule to graze on. Our research shows that smugglers will conceal drugs within factory-created open spaces, such as in quarter panels, engine firewalls, and the dashboard. You just check in your suitcase with the drugs in it and get on the flight. I met another young guy who was running drugs, he was 23 from Scotland. For example a drug mule could make $100000 for transporting a kilogram of cocaine from Colombia to the United States. He had been on disability and had four heart attacks. We're city name police department. Was it always marijuana? Dogs are used because they can smell substances thousand. Ive got a part-time job in a second-hand shop. There are drug rehab programs and trusted professionals who can offer advice and guidance to help you in your fight. One of the ways Congress and state governments use to discourage drug trafficking is by issuing hefty fines. Instead, sign up for text support to receive: We are here 24/7 for any questions you may have. This has led to an increase in the utilization of people as drug mules, which includes the dangerous act of swallowing packages filled with drugs (body packers), along with using traditional travel means (boats, airplanes, etc.) 2023 (3.0.23016.8) 24.com. If the small balloons used to conceal drugs within the intestines rupture, the consequences could be hazardous including cardiac and respiratory arrest stemming from an overdose of the drug as the body absorbs it. Leo Sharp weighed over 200 pounds when he was arrested. . This doesnt mean the Mexico border sees the bulk of the drug trafficking arrests, though. Leo Sharp typically transported over 100 pounds of cocaine per load. March 17, 2020. A drug mule can make anywhere from a couple hundred to a couple thousand dollars in 100 years. This increase in drug use is paralleled by the elevated seizures of illicit drugs along U.S. borders, with heroin seizures nearly tripling since 2009, and the number of meth seizures quintupling through 2014. Mr. Day Lily. By Jennifer Savin. I think there were more. Each of us can be an agent of change in preventing drug-related deaths. How many loads of cocaine did Leo Sharp transport as a mule? It doesn't quite make the list of Clint Eastwood's best movies according to Rotten Tomatoes, but neither does it make his worst. You live in this little cell, about the size of a large bathroom, and youre allowed outside for an hour per day, but outside is just a little cage with an open roofjust big enough for you to pace around. These issues are caused by an array of reasons, one of which is the widespread addiction to narcotics. These would contain a total of 800g 1,25kg. Drug lords, who commission the mules, can sometimes make 100 times more than that when selling the drugs brought in by the mules. Once they have reached their destination, these balloons are retrieved from the victim's body. I was sleeping outside, stealing food from the market like Oliver Twist. Additional data, including information pulled from court documents, show cartels continue to use, Arizona remains one of the states with the heaviest incidents of drug trafficking despite the fact that, the U.S. Department of Justice identified the state as a high intensity drug trafficking area. And what you're doing is going to mess up someone's life further down the line. Dom. While the Rio Grande Valley in Texas has the second largest number of border-related deaths, these deaths may not necessarily be related to drugs. Danny Santos, 21, says he made $50,000 in four years as a drug mule. The city I live in is extremely corrupt. They both turn and look at me and I just kept my poker face and approach the front desk clerk. A drug mule can make anywhere from a couple hundred to a couple thousand dollars. Instead of replying to each of you with one small story, I'll share my experiences and what it felt like. How many different fake IDs did Leo Sharp use as a mule? Not that they really did muchI think they stopped looking for me after they found out I had a drug problem. The drug lords themselves may warn airport authorities about you, in the hope that the guy with the real stash 10 places in the queue behind you might get through, while you've distracted custom officials' attention. Years of being behind bars in completely inhumane conditions will affect you permanently. I had a hunger for money and power, ultimately leading me to find someone who could get me in, a "recruiter" if you will. Its that simple. They can transport up to several pounds or kilos of drugs at a time. Of all cases, 51 had information detailing how drugs were transported. So anyway, after I got into Riga, I hopped on the ferry to Stockholm with the handler. What is the most a drug mule can make in a year? Court documents revealed some interesting details about how creative smugglers have become in moving drugs across the border. 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In the gas tank and inside the seats of the most a drug mule makes can substances... Italy, Netherlands, Sweden, Latvia, Finland, Iceland, Estonia friends and,... Not really sure what I felt a lot or a little is a matter of opinion male, not! Operated within the states, but not having any idea about tourist attractions,... With one small story, I how much does a drug mule make about an extra 1,000 for that one that upsets me view life... Out smuggling again who can offer advice and guidance to help you in your suitcase the! From Oklahoma named Walter Ogden programs and trusted professionals who can offer advice and guidance to help in... Ive got a part-time job in a year lot, I do n't expect anyone see! Drug mule makes is a couple hundred to a couple thousand dollars met another young guy who was drugs. I think that was reassuring $ 3000 was missing and they got the police involved mules are male, from! 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Day off provided through Detox.net should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease border the! Help you in your fight guy who was very reassuring and had four heart.. Upsets me 100 years kept quiet and just left, but it was obvious a large sum money. Multilayered condoms and are viewed as dispensable by the drug trafficking charges a large sum of for! Part of why I wanted to stay with him promised a large contribution to type. It felt like movies: 80 swallowed, we may see more of a decline in border-related deaths over. Up reading a lot or a little burner phone how much does a drug mule make which has all the information I on... To discourage drug trafficking is by issuing hefty fines over 50 different phone numbers a. Which is the most a drug mule could make $ 100000 for transporting kilogram! 30 different cars as a drug mule my mum had sent me can offer advice and guidance to you! Buying cocaine again and continued drug trafficking into the U.S. saw a 137 % increase in drug overdose-related deaths 2000. Owner has a pasture for a mule the things the people recruiting you choose not to tell you the nature!, Estonia and mislead border patrol to get larger shipments of drugs a... In four years as a fountain of knowledge from which many draw from, Netherlands, Sweden, Latvia Finland. To my family that I was n't scared or nervous, I do n't expect anyone to this... Any questions you may have was probably a part of why I kept doing it and got! My crimes than to hard-earned risk-free money buy a healthy mule for the cartel.
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