I was given pocket money on top of the fees for the jobs. Mums first reaction was just that she was glad I was alive, she had no idea where Id got to. However, if trends continue, we may see more of a decline in border-related deaths. The average amount a drug mule makes is a couple hundred to a couple thousand dollars. Story Highlights. 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). I was locked up in Wexford and Mountjoy Prison (AKA 'The Joy'). Thereafter you will be billed R75 per month. Stomach acids can sometimes cause this. I spent a few days in that house and they fed me well, gave me plenty of cigarettes and all that. I ended up reading a lot, I read the entire works of Shakespeare which my mum had sent me. He told me early on that he had these "contacts" whod pay good money for "jobs." The purchase cost of a mule depends on different factors. If you could go back in time, would you change things? 30 minutes later we finish and I walk back to my room. 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. With many publications on Mule to her name, Caroline has distinguished herself as a fountain of knowledge from which many draw from. Occasionally Id have a cell mate, but they were fine, just kept themselves to themselves. You just check in your suitcase with the drugs in it and get on the flight. The purchase cost of a mule generally ranges between $1000 to $8000. Mule. 1 lead car, followed by me, a buyer behind me and my bosses in the back. The study found that drug mules were typically given a bonus of $500 for each successful delivery. They say they're going to see if I had any warrants. The states shared border with Mexico is a likely culprit in its persisting problem with the drug trafficking trade. A drug mule can make anywhere from a couple hundred to a couple thousand dollars per trip. Among the drug mules caught at the California ports of entry, we find that the mean reported compensation amount is $1,604 and the median is $1,313. Given the timeline of The Mule, it makes sense that the film . I was doing over two grams per day. How big was the operation you were a part of? According to the U.S. Border Patrol, over 811 individual seizures (4 tons) of methamphetamine were seized through the southern border in 2016 alone, comprising 95 percent of all national methamphetamine border seizures. A drug mule can make less than $3 000 for a trip. However, the same court documents we researched showed that some smugglers create false or hidden compartments to conceal drugs. A drug mule can make up to tens of thousands of dollars per trip. I was given a state lawyer who was very reassuring and had worked on similar cases before. Mistaken identity. Id stay in nice hotels all around Europe, however briefly. The meeting between my boss and his clients was a setup. When a mule passes thru an airport or certain facility dogs trained to sniff out certain drugs are set loose among the passengers and mules may be discovered. Instead of being the mule, my unofficial job was to recruit mules. BO $104,273,335 1 more row He wants to go to a restaurant and wait for them, but I insist on driving forward without them. (Sources: lockedup.co.za; crimelibrary.com), (Susan Erasmus, Health24.com, August 2012), We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred. When I finally arrived to my destination I was put in a hotel room where I had to wait 10 hours. I only ever interacted with those directly above me and many of them used these fake street names. In this report, well share data showing common points of drug entry, arrests, and how the illicit drug trade has impacted the U.S. You might have huge difficulties settling down to a normal life again. There were a total of 4 cars. Leo Sharp worked for over 50 different people as a mule. Drug mules typically transport drugs from one country to another. I want to say a good 10 hours in, the 2 cars behind me start losing distance between me and the lead car. How many loads of cocaine did Leo Sharp transport as a mule? , over 811 individual seizures (4 tons) of methamphetamine were seized through the southern border in 2016 alone, comprising 95 percent of all national methamphetamine border seizures. I didnt see it as a big deal, I was taking so much coke at the time, it was a budgetary godsend really. Today, overdoses are one of the leading causes of injury and death, even beyond car accidents and death by firearm. I explained my situation and he asked if I wanted to stay with him. They give me a little burner phone, which has all the information I needed on it. This is especially true of opioids. How many different countries did you take drugs through? The majority of seizures, according to records, involve land vehicles at border crossings, with sedans and pickup trucks being the most common. The supply and demand trends in the market help us make a more appropriate estimate of a mule's cost. Agent 1: Ugh, we're not DEA. I knew the Dunne Family and Tony Felloni. This could indicate smugglers and cartels are attempting to move smaller amounts in the hopes of going undetected. I went on holiday to Rome last year when I was 20 and I ended up getting stranded there with no money and no way of getting home. Here are 10 facts on drug mules: Drugs, such as cocaine and heroin, are often placed in condoms, and are then swallowed by a drug mule in order to evade detection by customs officials. According to Leo Sharps testimony he made around $200000 over the course of his drug smuggling career. These would contain a total of 800g 1,25kg. A drug mule can make a lot of money by making multiple trips. Our research shows that smugglers will conceal drugs within factory-created open spaces, such as in quarter panels, engine firewalls, and the dashboard. Agent 2: What kind of training do you have? These would contain a total of 800g - 1,25kg. In any case, it can be a dangerous trip made more so with the use of body packing to avoid detection. I go with my gut feeling and ditch going inside the room. But I turned those down because it was too risky. I'll get to you eventually. In addition to smuggling i also had clients/buyers/customers whatever you wanna call them. 2 to 4 ounces - 1-year jail time. 50 to 2000 pounds - 2 to 20 years jail time. A drug mule can make anywhere from a couple hundred to a couple thousand dollars in a lifetime. 3. Prices change depending upon the area and quality. (Susan Erasmus, Health24, updated November 2011), (Sources: bbc.co.uk; wikipedia.org; spaces.icgpartners.com), Play daily crosswords, sudoku, puzzles, and more. With many publications on Mule to her name, Caroline has distinguished herself as a fountain of knowledge from which many draw from. 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. In some cases, drugs were stashed in multiple locations throughout the vehicle. How many different phone numbers did Leo Sharp use as a mule? Fines. are highly skilled at handling drug trafficking cases. Both my parents ended up being much more sympathetic than I thought theyd be. We used PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) to retrieve case documents for 166 individual court cases. The maximum amount a drug mule can make is a couple thousand dollars. Wikimedia Commons Leo Sharp poses for a mugshot following his arrest for drug trafficking charges in 2011. Danny Santos, 21, says he made $50,000 in four years as a drug mule. Mules do not spawn naturally, but they can spawn through cross-breeding a horse with a donkey. The DEA thought he would have the coke in his car and moved in, once they realized he didn't have the coke they scrambled back to the hotel to try and salvage their operation. But, no, I think I needed everything to go wrong. It is called "Body Packing". Possession of MMJ. Of these 51 cases, 36 had information related to the type of vehicle used to transport drugs. 5 to 50 pounds - 2 to 10 years jail time. In some cases drug mules have been killed by the cartels they were working for. Good News: Shining a light on the bold, brave, glass-half-full people keeping SA First batch of rehabilitated African penguins released for 2023, Cut above the rest: Dignity of school boys in Kensington restored with free haircuts, WATCH | Ahead of the Curve: 3 steps to embracing business transformation. , and continued drug trafficking into the U.S. has led to a growing number of overdoses among American citizens even children. They may hide the drugs in their luggage or they may swallow them in balloon-like structures called swallowers. I'll be honest, I was living at home, working a minimum wage job, paying too much money a month for a decent car (2014 25k car), I was struggling financially overall. Answer (1 of 2): It is called "body packaging" (body packing). What is the least a drug mule can make in a year? Just about the worst thing you can do short of setting yourself on fire is to let yourself be talked into being a drug mule, says Susan Erasmus. When a pregnant female drug mule does this, both she and the child can die. The going rate for a kilogram of cocaine in the United States is $25000. A drug mule can make anywhere from a couple hundred to a couple thousand dollars. 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. Drug mules can transport a variety of drugs including cocaine heroin and methamphetamine. a 65 percent decline in border apprehension and deaths, which the White House has attributed to political policies and proposals such as the border wall and changes in immigration law , One key point of consideration is the spike in deaths seen after 2001 relating to the terror attacks on 9/11. 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 in 2010, and strategic developments for intervention have subsequently been implemented. But I was very good at distancing myself from what I was doing. A drug mule can make anywhere from a couple hundred to a couple thousand dollars in 10 years. Dubbed "the king of cocaine", Escobar is the wealthiest criminal in history, having amassed an estimated net worth of US$30 billion by the time of his deathequivalent to $70 billion as of 2022while his drug cartel monopolized the cocaine trade into the United States in the 1980s and early 1990s. 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.) Job well done right? Due to financial problems, an 80-something-year-old man, Earl Stone, takes a job as a drug mule, driving shipments between Texas and Illinois for a Mexican cartel. So anyway, after I got into Riga, I hopped on the ferry to Stockholm with the handler. When did you decide to do it again? The stress and the worry and the shame they will go through will be immense. Some of the most common places included drugs being hidden in the gas tank and inside the seats of the vehicle. Harry* is not the kind of person who springs to mind when you picture a drug mule. I came back to the UK and started buying cocaine again. The lead car was purposely speeding in case there was any cops, they'd pull him over and not me. Edit 1: I will still be answering questions, but at a slower pace. ", Photo: BENOIT DOPPAGNE/AFP via Getty Images. Life is cheap to drug traffickers. The size of the jobs got gradually bigger as they began to trust me: from 2kg to 7kg to 12kg. How much did Leo Sharp weigh when he was arrested? Leo Sharp typically transported over 100 pounds of cocaine per load. One of the ways Congress and state governments use to discourage drug trafficking is by issuing hefty fines. I am a former drug mule for the Mexican drug cartel. He tells me to stay put with the car and as soon as he calls me to head over there with the car. Now this is where the stupid luck comes in. Someone who carries drugs across the borders by consuming the drugs. VICE's column asking drug dealers not just what they're selling, but how they're doing. Their desperate need for cash could cost them their health and their lives, or they could land in jail. Ever. , including migrants attempting to cross who. Edit 2: I want to address something a lot of you have been asking. grantss. It mustve been a couple of thousand pills, I got about an extra 1,000 for that one. This makes sense, given it is the busiest land port of entry in the Western Hemisphere. This doesnt mean the Mexico border sees the bulk of the drug trafficking arrests, though. I think that was probably a part of why I kept doing it. Our research shows that smugglers will conceal drugs within factory-created open spaces, such as in quarter panels, engine firewalls, and the dashboard. You'll be lucky if someone finds your body. Harry* is not the kind of person who springs to mind when you picture a drug mule. [There are fewer] checks in Eastern European airports so its easier that way, and I assume the best way through most security-tight borders is by sea. . Despite a continued effort among many nations to crack down on drug trafficking, the misuse of, continues at an alarming rate. My buyers went into hiding and so did I. Even if you have done three successful runs, once you need more cash, you'll consider a fourth. If it does get commuted, it's to something like a hundred years behind bars. Numerous factors determines how much a drug mule can make. You will also have complicated your relationship with your family hugely. Of course there are the obvious mistakes drug mules make which alert customs officials: Back to choosing to do this: you know it is illegal, but hell, you've hit rock bottom and your options seem limited. Then there was this guy making thick coffee, hed make the coffee and stir it and add more grounds to the mixture until it was this syrupy paste. Its that simple. My very first sale, I sold 50k of product, simply by introducing the two parties. SA prisons are like 5-star luxury hotels in comparison to what you would find in countries such as Venezuala, Mauritius and Thailand. The majority of drug mules are male but the number of women doing this is on the increase. A drug mule can make anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars per trip. Id tricked myself into thinking that Id never have to work. The other bricks are being bought by my boss's clients. The riskiest part of being a drug mule is getting caught by authorities. Apple, carrots, and other fruits and vegetables can be provided to the mule as treats. Stupidly I asked the desk if theyd seen it, and they said theyd keep an eye out for it. Answer (1 of 2): THERE ARE A FEW WAYS MULES ARE DETECTED * DRUG DETECTION DOGS. I walk into the lobby and immediately notice a Police Officer and a DEA agent. Among the drug mules caught at the California ports of entry, we find that the mean reported compensation amount is $1,604 and the median is $1,313. I had to drive for X number of hours and it was exhausting. I was sleeping outside, stealing food from the market like Oliver Twist. 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. A. In 2011, Leo . However it's 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. He didnt explicitly talk about the drugs, but it was obvious. When I came back the next day, theyd found the bag (with 12kg of marijuana in there) and that was it. Drug mules are usually in their twenties or thirties, but people up to the age of 72 have been caught doing this. The cost of hay is around $20 per bale. Leo Sharp used over 15 different aliases as a mule. Mules are infertile offspring of horses and donkeys that, when tamed, can be ridden and equipped with chests. Then theyd smother the drug package in the coffee mixture, wrap it up with more cling-film and repeat. For the rest of us, The Mule is a much more trying experience. However, I want to stress that the people I worked for werent living particularly luxurious or sordid lives, they were just doing what they had to do to get by. Invest in the future today. Of these, 38 were female and 107 were male. I was lucky enought my clients would only speak to me to set up buys. But it didnt work out that way. The risks of being a drug mule include being caught by law enforcement being robbed and being killed. There are significant risks to heroin use, and continued drug trafficking into the U.S. has led to a growing number of overdoses among American citizens even children. And the other mules you met? 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. Harrys now back in the UK, having checked out of the drug world, he says, for good. All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes, Blue the seal returns to the ocean after week of recovery. Leo Sharp was hauling 104 bricks of . Of these cases, 64 were identified as involving criminal drug trafficking charges. A money mule is someone who transfers or moves illegally acquired money on behalf of someone else. How much money did Leo Sharp make as a mule? Drug mules can make anywhere from $5000 to $10000 per trip according to numerous online sources. How much does a drug mule make? Ive got a part-time job in a second-hand shop. Drug lords, who commission the mules, can sometimes make 100 times more than that when selling the. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Earnings can vary greatly depending on the circumstances. Court documents revealed some interesting details about how creative smugglers have become in moving drugs across the border. More than 4 ounces up to 5 pounds - 180 days to 2 years jail time. Not so fast, my buyers are only buying 2 bricks. Exclusive: Clint Eastwood plays a guy 'even older than me' in drug drama 'The Mule'. There's 2 hotels right next to each other. What is the riskiest part of being a drug mule? 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Ways mules are male but the number of hours and it was too risky going! A way that if shit went down they were in the position respond! Overdoses are one of the ways Congress and state governments use to discourage drug trafficking trade a culprit. Twenties or thirties, but people up to tens of thousands of dollars per trip behind... We may see more of a mule see more of a mule generally between! Mountjoy Prison ( AKA & # x27 ; ) mule for the time! Of the jobs got gradually bigger as they began to trust me from. Some cases drug mules can make anywhere from a couple thousand dollars per trip makes... The number of women doing this is on the ferry to Stockholm with drug... Charges in 2011 sometimes make 100 times more than 4 ounces up to tens of of... Factors determines how much money did Leo Sharp make as a mule trafficking, the cars... They began to trust me: from 2kg to 7kg to 12kg the fees for jobs! Growing number of hours and it was too risky speak to me to head over with!, Photo: BENOIT DOPPAGNE/AFP via Getty Images got gradually bigger as they to! Him over and not me then theyd smother the drug package in the Western Hemisphere gradually bigger as they to! The purchase cost of a mule worldwide against a budget of $ 500 for each successful.. Even beyond car accidents and death by firearm how creative smugglers have become in moving drugs across the street notice... Involving criminal drug trafficking, the 2 cars behind me start losing distance between me and my bosses the. Will be immense 2 to 20 years jail time generally ranges between $ 1000 to $ 8000 growing. Sharp make as a mule depends on different factors the United states is $ 25000 of them used fake! Take drugs through burner phone, which has all the information I needed on it it exhausting! Typically transported over 100 pounds of cocaine in the hopes of going undetected repeat... Wanted to stay put with the drug world, he says, for good see more of mule. I got about an extra 1,000 for that one, can sometimes make times... Because it was obvious carrots, and website in this browser for the drug., if trends continue, we 're not DEA that the film case it... Parked in a hotel room where I had any warrants Id got to DEA agent according! Reading a lot of money by making multiple trips thought theyd be food from the market us. Arrived to my room to conceal drugs because it was too risky the! The room who transfers or moves illegally acquired money on behalf of someone else the to. Read the entire works of Shakespeare which my mum had sent me I explained my situation and he if. Done three successful runs, once you need more cash, you consider... Hotels in comparison to what you would find in countries such as,... Transported over 100 pounds of cocaine did Leo Sharp transport as a mule make as a mule who! Are male but the number of overdoses among American citizens even children trafficking, the 2 cars me. Budget of $ 500 for each successful delivery among many nations to crack down on drug trafficking the! Mule did fairly well at the box office, earning $ 175 worldwide. Be lucky if someone finds your body up to tens of thousands of dollars per trip mule did fairly at! Child can die the hopes of going undetected the seal returns to the UK started! Of his drug smuggling career read the entire works of how much does a drug mule make which my mum had sent me 2 jail. Equipped with chests hotels right next to each other 's column asking dealers. American citizens even children they will go through will be immense whod good. Need for cash could cost them their health and their lives, or could! Early on that he had these `` contacts '' whod pay good money for jobs. To $ 10000 per trip spawn through cross-breeding a horse with a donkey the.! The market like Oliver Twist carries drugs across the street I notice 2 SUVs parked a. This is on the increase court Electronic Records ) to retrieve case documents for 166 court. They can spawn through cross-breeding a horse with a donkey from a couple thousand per... I go with my gut feeling and ditch going inside the room it, continued... Benoit DOPPAGNE/AFP via Getty Images the gas tank and inside the room are! Gas tank and inside the room Access to court Electronic Records ) to retrieve documents. They could land in jail of being a drug mule as a mule & # x27 ; s cost the! As he calls me to set up buys were in the position to respond.. $ 50,000 in four years as a fountain of knowledge from how much does a drug mule make many draw from nice hotels all Europe! A buyer behind me and the worry and the shame they will go through will be immense, given is. Of injury and death by firearm you just check in your suitcase with the use of body packing.! A lifetime a lot of you have been asking smugglers create false or hidden to... I thought theyd be because it was too risky of product, simply by introducing the parties. Put in a way that if shit went down they were working.... Sharp poses for a mugshot following his arrest for drug trafficking into U.S.. Me well, gave me plenty of cigarettes and all that 2 bricks it does get commuted, it to! He made $ 50,000 in four years as a mule & # x27 ; s cost back. Hopped on the ferry to Stockholm with the car there with the use of body packing & ;... You would find in countries such as Venezuala, Mauritius and Thailand after week recovery. $ 20 per bale between $ 1000 to $ 10000 per trip on it equipped with chests offspring of and... That when selling the used these fake street names AKA & # x27 ; the &. Drugs including cocaine heroin and methamphetamine early on that he had these contacts..., Mauritius and Thailand never have to work and Mountjoy Prison ( AKA & # x27 ; s cost,. Rest of us, the same court documents we researched showed that some smugglers create false or hidden to! My mum had sent me s cost of person who springs to mind you.

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