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Blow up: how half a tonne of cocaine transformed the life of an island

theguardian.com

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Re: Blow up: how half a tonne of cocaine transformed the life of an island

#61

Post by UweSchmidt »

paganel wrote: post #53
cosmodisk wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I was told this about 10 years ago. People used to transport cocaine from Spain to Northern countries in Europe.They'd send 2 cars: empty,large SUV,with as many bells and whistles as possible. And a few miles behind a little Smart car with all the drugs. They always stopped the SUV but the little one was stopped not even once...

Noticed a similar thing earlier this year, while I was crossing the border from a non-Schengen area country into the Schengen territory. The owner of a new Audi Q5 or Q7 just in front of me received all sorts of questions from the customs guards, while me and my gf passed the border in a breeze. We were driving our 12-year old small 1.4 liter hatchback, which has scratches on all its four corners, I said to myself th…

While it is difficult to catch everyone at a border within the EU I would believe that there is a subset of border cops that can sniff out smugglers. Since you didn't smuggle anything they were correct in not suspecting you.

Re: Blow up: how half a tonne of cocaine transformed the life of an island

#62

Post by paganel »

UweSchmidt wrote: post #61
paganel wrote: post #53

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Noticed a similar thing earlier this year, while I was crossing the border from a non-Schengen area country into the Schengen territory. The owner of a new Audi Q5 or Q7 just in front of me received all sorts of questions from the customs guards, while me and my gf passed the border in a breeze. We were driving our 12-year old small 1.4 liter hatchback, which has scratches on all its four corners, I said to myself th…

While it is difficult to catch everyone at a border within the EU I would believe that there is a subset of border cops that can sniff out smugglers. Since you didn't smuggle anything they were correct in not suspecting you.

I know that. But as the OP said, it’s interesting to think about an anti-anti-smuggling technique like the one where you’re using an hipsterish couple to physically carry things for you, instead of some tattooed guys.

Re: Blow up: how half a tonne of cocaine transformed the life of an island

#63

Post by DoreenMichele »

GreeniFi wrote: post #2

I sometimes wonder about the psychology of people who try this sort of money-making venture, ie smuggling vast quantities of illegal drugs across the ocean. Do these “entrepreneurs” understand the risk they take, or do they pretend to themselves that there is no risk? Excepting where there is coercion, is it big balls or small brains? I’d love to hear from a smuggler to hear how they manage psychologically the huge d…

I've never smuggled anything. I did get secretly married at age 19 to another 19 year old thinking it somehow wouldn't matter in the future. We were married for 22 years and we've been divorced a long time. The "Oh, yeah, I married in secret" thing still is a point of discomfort, though I wasn't doing anything illegal nor immoral.

It helped me say "nope" to the opportunity to launder money while I was homeless and being given no legitimate opportunities and generally being pissed all over by a world that wanted me to know I didn't deserve any legitimate opportunities. I got the memo in a rather harmless way that the past never really dies. You can't just do a thing just this one time and pretend "It's in the past! It doesn't matter!" Life just doesn't actually work that way.

A lot of people seem to learn that a much harder way. Until then, some people figure that what you don't know won't hurt them.

Re: Blow up: how half a tonne of cocaine transformed the life of an island

#64

Post by Proven »

Joakal wrote: post #15
GreeniFi wrote: post #2

I sometimes wonder about the psychology of people who try this sort of money-making venture, ie smuggling vast quantities of illegal drugs across the ocean. Do these “entrepreneurs” understand the risk they take, or do they pretend to themselves that there is no risk? Excepting where there is coercion, is it big balls or small brains? I’d love to hear from a smuggler to hear how they manage psychologically the huge d…

High risk, high reward. Drug lords offer wealth, rich, or just a job, etc. Look at people doing lottery, etc. Poor uneducated people tend to do it. If people are more educated, they will tend to avoid unnecessary risks (in part because stable jobs = eventual goal achievement).

That doesn't make sense.

If some people don't play, profits go up for the rest that do. High risk high reward becomes high risk higher reward.

Re: Blow up: how half a tonne of cocaine transformed the life of an island

#65

Post by antris »

GreeniFi wrote: post #2

I sometimes wonder about the psychology of people who try this sort of money-making venture, ie smuggling vast quantities of illegal drugs across the ocean. Do these “entrepreneurs” understand the risk they take, or do they pretend to themselves that there is no risk? Excepting where there is coercion, is it big balls or small brains? I’d love to hear from a smuggler to hear how they manage psychologically the huge d…

The bigger organizations have made ties with the law enforcement on an individual cop bribing level, and sometimes even collaborating with higher-ups of the law enforcement organizations. Police ordering customs to let a particular shipment through, et cetera.

Lots of money gives you influence to reduce the risks.

Re: Blow up: how half a tonne of cocaine transformed the life of an island

#66

Post by GreeniFi »

jacquesm wrote: post #54
GreeniFi wrote: post #2

I sometimes wonder about the psychology of people who try this sort of money-making venture, ie smuggling vast quantities of illegal drugs across the ocean. Do these “entrepreneurs” understand the risk they take, or do they pretend to themselves that there is no risk? Excepting where there is coercion, is it big balls or small brains? I’d love to hear from a smuggler to hear how they manage psychologically the huge d…

I'm not a smuggler, but I know one. Let's call him George. He's not currently available to tell his story so let me give you the abridged version. George ran a (very) successful business here in NL and in Belgium, made a lot of money and was doing just fine. Then in a short period of time his wife died and his business took a hit both from competition, regulation and because he wasn't paying as much attention to it a…

That’s a very interesting story, thank you. My immediate reaction is that the justice system’s chief unfairness is the punishment of children. Jail a mother or father and you risk destroying a family, with all the life consequences that entails.

As for George, it’s also unfairness that one mistake has such deep ramifications - particularly when drugs are so widely used and accepted in Australia. But also, I feel George may have failed to price in the risk of being caught.

Re: Blow up: how half a tonne of cocaine transformed the life of an island

#67

Post by GreeniFi »

caprese wrote: post #32
GreeniFi wrote: post #2

I sometimes wonder about the psychology of people who try this sort of money-making venture, ie smuggling vast quantities of illegal drugs across the ocean. Do these “entrepreneurs” understand the risk they take, or do they pretend to themselves that there is no risk? Excepting where there is coercion, is it big balls or small brains? I’d love to hear from a smuggler to hear how they manage psychologically the huge d…

It is hugely lucrative... Make a quadrant chart of ways to make money with assets. The X-axis is margins and the Y-axis is overhead costs. You could even add a Z-axis for weight as you need the ability to transport a lot for scale. There are very few assets with comparatively low overhead costs, high margins, and low weight. You pretty much just have only drugs, share dilution and - as of this decade - cryptographic…

This analysis totally appeals to my economist brain. However, you would have to look at the risk-adjusted return on your capital investment.

Reading the above does make me wonder whether smugglers like in the Guardian story have access to some sort of dark web insurance policy which pays out if they are caught. My guess is probably yes because the market abhors a vacuum.

Re: Blow up: how half a tonne of cocaine transformed the life of an island

#68

Post by jacquesm »

orthoxerox wrote: post #58
jacquesm wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm not a smuggler, but I know one. Let's call him George. He's not currently available to tell his story so let me give you the abridged version. George ran a (very) successful business here in NL and in Belgium, made a lot of money and was doing just fine. Then in a short period of time his wife died and his business took a hit both from competition, regulation and because he wasn't paying as much attention to it a…

Who's the kid with now? Does Australia let them live with their parent in prison?

The first question does not really deserve an answer, the second question is something that you could reason out for yourself.

Re: Blow up: how half a tonne of cocaine transformed the life of an island

#69

Post by caprese »

GreeniFi wrote: post #67
caprese wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is hugely lucrative... Make a quadrant chart of ways to make money with assets. The X-axis is margins and the Y-axis is overhead costs. You could even add a Z-axis for weight as you need the ability to transport a lot for scale. There are very few assets with comparatively low overhead costs, high margins, and low weight. You pretty much just have only drugs, share dilution and - as of this decade - cryptographic…

This analysis totally appeals to my economist brain. However, you would have to look at the risk-adjusted return on your capital investment. Reading the above does make me wonder whether smugglers like in the Guardian story have access to some sort of dark web insurance policy which pays out if they are caught. My guess is probably yes because the market abhors a vacuum.

> dark web insurance policy which pays out if they are caught

Well, they could now, but I don't really think the market is that mature.

Larger organizations behind drug-peddling conglomerates are adequately hedged and diversified and can withstand a big shipment failing.

Re: Blow up: how half a tonne of cocaine transformed the life of an island

#70

Post by isnetea »

jdietrich wrote: post #25
GreeniFi wrote: post #2

I sometimes wonder about the psychology of people who try this sort of money-making venture, ie smuggling vast quantities of illegal drugs across the ocean. Do these “entrepreneurs” understand the risk they take, or do they pretend to themselves that there is no risk? Excepting where there is coercion, is it big balls or small brains? I’d love to hear from a smuggler to hear how they manage psychologically the huge d…

Large-scale smuggling is highly professionalised and hugely lucrative. We're not talking about some guy with a boat, we're talking about an organisation that rivals a multinational corporation by almost any metric. One of the biggest exporters of cocaine in recent years was FARC, a Columbian rebel group that acted as the de-facto government of large areas of Columbia. Their operation was sufficiently sophisticated th…

The correct spelling is Colombia.
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