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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

#11

Post by aaron695 »

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…

Watching to many movies.

The point they catch you in the supply chain is not the ocean part, it's what you do with it when you arrive or intel from picking it up.

> huge downside risk of being caught

People climb cliffs all the time and handle the risk of the rope breaking and dying.

What if you have a fit in a car and crash (Or someone coming the other way does), is that hard to handle? Death is way worse than being caught with drugs.

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

#13

Post by selimthegrim »

logicx24 wrote: post #8
daodedickinson wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>Do you have to be a neurological outlier to undertake this sort of project? Yes. >I’d love to hear from a smuggler to hear how they manage psychologically the huge downside risk of being caught. I would recommend the first seven or so Jay-Z albums. "I had to hustle, my back to the wall, ashy knuckles Pockets filled with a lot of lint, not a cent Gotta vent, lot of innocent of lives lost on the project bench Whatchu…

Listening to Illmatic also describes this experience really well. I hate commenting on the "authenticity" of gangster rap music, as my life is so incredibly far away from the things they discuss, but Nas gives some of the grittiest descriptions of a life spent in crime.

I think Freddie Gibbs and Vince Staples have played against type here and really engage in metacommentary rather than glorification. It's a heartening trend in rap.

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

#14

Post by rdiddly »

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…

When you grow up in poverty you don't have a lot to lose. A jail bed and food might even be better than your own. Throw in any kind of abuse or trauma in your past, and you'll also tend to have little regard for your own life. Throw in the overconfidence of youth and I'd imagine it begins to seem like a huge upside with a small risk of an inconsequential downside.

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

#15

Post by Joakal »

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).

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

#16

Post by RandomBacon »

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).

I read a brief post by someone why made decent money smuggling drugs in a prop plane across the US. He only did it a couple of times (didn't let greed take over). He didn't go into details, but I imagine some people feel like they can mitigate the risk, or don't have much to lose.

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

#17

Post by jdavis703 »

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 known people who did small time smuggling... nothing approaching millions of dollars. The decision is usually economically rational, i.e. they need money for something and the risk of getting caught is low enough that it’s worthwhile.

Of course I imagine people who are knowingly moving millions of dollars either are reckless risk takers or think they can outsmart the weather, law enforcement, mechanics and whatever else can go wrong.

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

#18

Post by ngold »

RandomBacon wrote: post #16
Joakal wrote: post #15

Earlier quoted context omitted.

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).

I read a brief post by someone why made decent money smuggling drugs in a prop plane across the US. He only did it a couple of times (didn't let greed take over). He didn't go into details, but I imagine some people feel like they can mitigate the risk, or don't have much to lose.

I remember reading that you have 2 years max to make money and get out before your guaranteed to get busted. It was a fun book. Personally I wouldn't recommend the lifestyle choice.

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

#19

Post by GreeniFi »

daodedickinson wrote: post #4
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…

>Do you have to be a neurological outlier to undertake this sort of project? Yes. >I’d love to hear from a smuggler to hear how they manage psychologically the huge downside risk of being caught. I would recommend the first seven or so Jay-Z albums. "I had to hustle, my back to the wall, ashy knuckles Pockets filled with a lot of lint, not a cent Gotta vent, lot of innocent of lives lost on the project bench Whatchu…

Great answer. Thank you. I’ve never read any Jay-Z lyrics and had always - I see wrongly - assumed they had little to tell. I see a night spent reading hip hop lyrics ahead of me!

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

#20

Post by GreeniFi »

arthurcolle wrote: post #3
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's probably no different than traders who take huge risks in any kind of financial market. They probably feel like they have a better understanding of the risks than most other market participants, but when they fail it always retrospectively appears like an outsized risk to more moderated participants.

I think many traders are likely neurological outliers. Even as an entrepreneur, I can’t take investment until I know I’m on a really sure wicket and investors are as appraised as I am of all the risks involved. I know I could not handle the pressure associated with daily trading others’ money.
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