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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not feel any sympathy for drug-smuggling women?

592 replies

DarceyBissell · 12/08/2013 17:42

Just that really. Two young women facing 25 years in a Peruvian jail for trying to smuggle 11kg of cocaine. Saw they described as 'vulnerable' in one paper. Hardly. Greedy and stupid though.

OP posts:
SauceForTheGander · 13/08/2013 14:58

That old chesnut about fags being harder to give up than heroin. It's not true.

I wish the NHS would stop saying it. It's total bullshit.

squoosh · 13/08/2013 14:58

I have no moral issue with someone taking a mind altering substance, it's just that the drug industry is built on murder and misery from the source to the sale.

Viviennemary · 13/08/2013 15:00

I'm trying to muster up sympathy but I can't. People know the consequences of criminal activity. You need a bit of extra cash so you drive the getaway van for a bank robbery. You wouldn't expect to be dealt with leniently. Hiding behind this it was a foolish decision is simply not the reality. Drugs bring death and destruction and every drug smuggler and dealer plays a part in this hideous trade.

EasyMark · 13/08/2013 15:00

Im so impressed of anyone that can overcome an addition.

noddyholder · 13/08/2013 15:02

Thanks. My brother was deep in the throes of addiction when I was on dialysis and needed a kidney. he said I am going to give it up and donate one. Everybody me inc took it with a pinch of salt but he did it! When he had all the physical tests pre donation 4 separate consultants said there was no sign on him physically that he had ever taken more than a paracetomol in his life. Quite remarkable.

EasyMark · 13/08/2013 15:06

He must truly love you xx

Hope he stays clean for ever to enjoy life to the full xx

squoosh · 13/08/2013 15:06

Wow, that's brought a tear to my eye noddy. Was he a suitable donor?

noddyholder · 13/08/2013 15:07

Yes he was I had the op in 2000 and its still working Smile

squoosh · 13/08/2013 15:09

Oh that's so heart warming. Your lovely brother, saving his own life to save his sister's life!

I appear to have something in my eye.............

noddyholder · 13/08/2013 15:11

Smile yes.

expatinscotland · 13/08/2013 15:11

YABU.

sweetestcup · 13/08/2013 15:13

eccentrica I totally disagree with you saying there is nothing inherently wrong with drugs and I don't think legalising heroin would stop people buying it illegally either for that matter. Drugs themselves can also kill, not just because they are contaminated.

kali110 · 13/08/2013 15:13

Op i used to have no sympathy and just thought they were stupid. Then i read some stories on the subject and watched that show, banged up abroad. I still think they're stupid but i do have sympathy after realising why some of them did it. Huge risk though and definitely not worth it!
As for punishment being high, its better than the punishments abroad!

SauceForTheGander · 13/08/2013 15:15

Noddy! Smile

SpecialAgentCuntSnake · 13/08/2013 15:15

Noddy I... Wow. I feel speechless. Your parents must be so proud, two heroes as their children!

Flowers So glad both you, your family and your DB are all doing well.

MrsSparkles · 13/08/2013 15:15

That's lovely noddy!

No sympathy at all for these 2 from me - I can just about muster some for drug mules from the 3rd world who honestly feel they have no choice. I don't understand who in their right mind would agree to do this. They knew what they were doing, why else would you be paid £'000's for a trip to bring something back.

It also drives me mad when I hear they're stuck in a hellhole prison, and why isn't the consulate doing anything - they broke the law in a South American country - what did they expect would happen if they were caught.

noddyholder · 13/08/2013 15:16

Our parents are a whole other thread unfortunately!

burberryqueen · 13/08/2013 15:18

sweetestcup - so can alcohol - btw have you any idea how many doctors are addicted to clinical grade morphine or cocaine? plenty, but you would never notice because
a) they have unlimited access to clean, high quality drugs
b) as a result they are not drawn into criminal activity to fund their habit and do not need to consort with dealers.

burberryqueen · 13/08/2013 15:18

noddy your brother sounds so lovely

sweetestcup · 13/08/2013 15:19

Noddy that's such a nice story

everlong · 13/08/2013 15:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

burberryqueen · 13/08/2013 15:20

OMG did anyone see that episode of 'banged up abroad' where there was a chap from Dublin banged up in Venezuela for cocaine smuggling?
truly horrifying - but he did it out of greed for money and ignorance about 'abroad'......no coercion etc.

SpecialAgentCuntSnake · 13/08/2013 15:20

I think that's what pisses me off Kali They're not all eyelashes and innocent. They're just bloody stupid. That doesn't make them less worthy of sympathy, but I don't like putting people who are on a far grander^ scale to women who turn to muling out of sheer desperation for their lives/children's lives/not educated and believe this money will solve all their problems.

I feel uncomfortable places these young ladies as 'vulnerable' next to those young ladies. They were stupid and the price is horrific but no one is that stupid in 2013 if coercion wasn't involved (will need to find out trial obviously)

If coercion was involved I hope they give them up and they are arrested. I still wouldn't feel the same as putting them on the 'vulnerable' ledge TBH. I don't see the vulnerable, other than their ages.

sweetestcup · 13/08/2013 15:23

Given the strict ordering and stock control procedures in the last hospital I worked in I would doubt that any drug addicted Doctors were getting their supply there of morphine and we didn't stock cocaine,maybe different in other hospitals of course!

Yama · 13/08/2013 15:25

I feel sorry for these two young women.

My Mum knew a woman whose son was locked up somewhere, I think Thailand. He had been given a 30+ year sentence for drug smuggling. She was a shadow of a person. She believed in his innocence and tried to campaign to have him released but no-one would listen.

The horror of the drug industry cannot be laid at the feet of drug mules. It really can't. There are far, far more guilty parties.

Yes, I have compassion for these two.