comment: >
  
  Money is tighter than it has ever been and people are becoming increasingly desperate to make it. A lot of times these mules will be promised that their families will be taken care of if they end up in prison. The article says this has a maximum punishment of 20 years. If this is a first offense for her, with a good lawyer and a tear jerk sob story about needing money she could very easily end up with less than 10 years and get out in 5 for good behavior.
context: I want to know how much these mules get paid.  Shits a dangerous game. >
  
  Not enough to ruin your life over.