comment: >
  
  I hope they had a good lawyer
context: I want to know how much these mules get paid.  Shits a dangerous game. >
  
  Not enough to ruin your life over. >
  
  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. >
  
  How would someone even get in contact with the cartel? She must've known them prior to this to trust her with 3 pounds, not sure how much the value is either. >
  
  I once watched a fascinating documentary about a schoolteacher in New Mexico who was diagnosed with cancer and needed to raise money for his treatment. I won't ruin it for everyone, but eventually the cartel did become involved.