2 British girls arrested for drug smuggling in Peru

~~Cuthbert~~ · 08-23-2013, 11:31 AM

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Originally Posted by The Batlord

They deserve two decades of being locked up with hardened criminals for being stupid?

If that's the law and they've knowingly broke it then yes.

Unknown Soldier · 08-23-2013, 11:38 AM

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Originally Posted by Christian Benteke

If that's the law and they've knowingly broke it then yes.

You keep saying this over and over again, BUT the law is not the same for all there, so it's hardly justice. Secondly, you seem to be condoning the justice system of Peru like its sacrosanct and beyond criticism. This in itself runs contrary to what you said earlier, in that you don't really care about the crime, more the fact that they were lying to get sympathy. Also it's debatable on how much that they actually knew about the laws there as well, as they weren't issued with an English translation of Peruvian laws.

~~Cuthbert~~ · 08-23-2013, 11:53 AM

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Originally Posted by Unknown Soldier

You keep saying this over and over again, BUT the law is not the same for all there, so it's hardly justice. Secondly, you seem to be condoning the justice system of Peru like its sacrosanct and beyond criticism. This in itself runs contrary to what you said earlier, in that you don't really care about the crime, more the fact that they were lying to get sympathy.

If the law says drug trafficking is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and they're found guilty of drug trafficking then I'm failing to see how they shouldn't get a heavy sentence for smuggling 1.5m of coke.

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Also it's debatable on how much that they actually knew about the laws there as well, as they weren't issued with an English translation of Peruvian laws.

Yeah, there is a chance they thought it was legal to bring 11kg of coke back.

Unknown Soldier · 08-23-2013, 12:07 PM

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Originally Posted by Christian Benteke

If the law says drug trafficking is punishable by up to 20 years in prison and they're found guilty of drug trafficking then I'm failing to see how they shouldn't get a heavy sentence for smuggling 1.5m of coke.

That's not what's being debated here, what is being debated is how unjust the legal system is there to impose this type of sentence. Also you've avoided again the question that was put to you earlier. And that was why should you feel so strongly about them being sentenced, when you don't overly care about the actual crime?

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Yeah, there is a chance they thought it was legal to bring 11kg of coke back.

Nobody has suggested that, all that I've suggested is that they didn't know the severity of the crime when caught. Cocaine is a party drug that people have a good time with and there is no reason why two silly young girls should be aware of the draconian laws attached to it in Peru. I very much doubt that the dealers that got them involved, were on-hand to issue warnings about the risks that the operation entailed.

Trollheart · 08-23-2013, 12:17 PM

I don't get why you guys don't seem to think this is a big deal. Seriously, what would you have happen? It's not like they tried to smuggle a small amount of coke in: it was eleven kilos! That's like filling my biggest, fattest cat up with coke and then cloning him twice and filling those two up also. That is a LOT of coke! This is no "oh we didn't know" situation: these girls clearly knew they were taking a risk but decided the money was worth it. How US can say they may not have known Peruvian law is beyond me: it's well known that countries outside of Europe have harsher laws for drug smuggling to try and reduce it. Anyway, if they were going to do this do you not think they would have checked out the penalties if they were caught? If they didn't they were either monumentally stupid or believed there was no chance they would get caught OR if they did, they could lie their way out of it.

Nobody likes being used. People have been used here: used to try to protest the innocence of two stupid women who do not deserve it, and people are angry at them. I can't understand your tolerance for this sort of thing. Why should it NOT be a big deal? What sort of message does it send to future would-be smugglers if these people are not clamped down upon hard?

And yes, I know the barons get off because they can pay, but hey that's just how the world works. Same as when the scandal in Abu Gharib broke: who went down? A few soldiers and some bog-level officers. No top brass, even though it was clear they knew and had possibly condoned this behaviour. If this was an ideal world ALL of the guilty would be punished but it's not and sometimes it's the foot soldiers who pay. The fact that they are willing to BE footsoldiers makes them just as guilty and just as liable to prosecution as the bosses.

~~Cuthbert~~ · 08-23-2013, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Unknown Soldier

That's not what's being debated here, what is being debated is how unjust the legal system is there to impose this type of sentence. Also you've avoided again the question that was put to you earlier. And that was why should you feel so strongly about them being sentenced, when you don't overly care about the actual crime?

I don't feel 'strongly' about it really. They're just lying ****s who have been caught trafficking drugs, loads of people try it but they're the ones who've been caught, they should get a harsh sentence if they're found guilty.

You don’t **** about like they have in countries like that, you’re asking for trouble.

Hopefully by the time they're sentenced there is something on Facebook I can like that will make sure they get 25 years.

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Nobody has suggested that, all that I've suggested is that they didn't know the severity of the crime when caught. Cocaine is a party drug that people have a good time with and there is no reason why two silly young girls should be aware of the draconian laws attached to it in Peru. I very much doubt that the dealers that got them involved, were on-hand to issue warnings about the risks that the operation entailed.

That they'd likely get many years in prison for it? I'm sure everyone would know this. You cannot seriously think you can smuggle the amount of coke they tried to smuggle and expect to get a slap on the wrist ffs

.

Unknown Soldier · 08-23-2013, 12:39 PM

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Originally Posted by Trollheart

I don't get why you guys don't seem to think this is a big deal. Seriously, what would you have happen? It's not like they tried to smuggle a small amount of coke in: it was eleven kilos! That's like filling my biggest, fattest cat up with coke and then cloning him twice and filling those two up also. That is a LOT of coke! This is no "oh we didn't know" situation: these girls clearly knew they were taking a risk but decided the money was worth it.

It certainly is a lot of coke and its seizure should have had some effect on the supply of it in Europe......but that is not going to be the case and cocaine will continue to flow here. But how is that possible when airport security there is that strict? It should be easy to seize nearly all the coke that goes through shouldn't it? But no, it still comes through and the corrupt officials there are paid to look the other way, but of course to show the international community that Peru is doing their bit, they have to seize some and make an example of the carriers. All these girls were was unlucky, as had they had better protectors they would've walked away after a pay-off before it became public knowledge. Again I stress that it's impossible to have any real justice under these circumstances.

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How US can say they may not have known Peruvian law is beyond me: it's well known that countries outside of Europe have harsher laws for drug smuggling to try and reduce it.

You might know this, I might know this, but that doesn't mean that all elements of the population are going to be equally aware.

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Anyway, if they were going to do this do you not think they would have checked out the penalties if they were caught? If they didn't they were either monumentally stupid or believed there was no chance they would get caught OR if they did, they could lie their way out of it

Like I said, there is a good chance they may not have been aware, only time will tell on this with the trial.

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Nobody likes being used. People have been used here: used to try to protest the innocence of two stupid women who do not deserve it, and people are angry at them. I can't understand your tolerance for this sort of thing. Why should it NOT be a big deal? What sort of message does it send to future would-be smugglers if these people are not clamped down upon hard?

Whether you clamp down hard on these people makes no difference, smuggling will go on as it's good business for all concerned. Unless you address the production of the product and educate the users more, harsh prison sentences will have little effect here.

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And yes, I know the barons get off because they can pay, but hey that's just how the world works. Same as when the scandal in Abu Gharib broke: who went down? A few soldiers and some bog-level officers. No top brass, even though it was clear they knew and had possibly condoned this behaviour. If this was an ideal world ALL of the guilty would be punished but it's not and sometimes it's the foot soldiers who pay. The fact that they are willing to BE footsoldiers makes them just as guilty and just as liable to prosecution as the bosses.

The barons get off and the foot soldiers pay the price for failure, I won't argue that it's not the way of the world, but don't ask me to agree with punishing the foot soldiers with harsh laws, while the drug barons walk free.

~~Cuthbert~~ · 08-23-2013, 12:50 PM

So punish the drug barons as well then. These shouldn't get off just because the barons are paying people off.

Unknown Soldier · 08-23-2013, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christian Benteke

I don't feel 'strongly' about it really. They're just lying ****s who have been caught trafficking drugs, loads of people try it but they're the ones who've been caught, they should get a harsh sentence if they're found guilty.

You don’t **** about like they have in countries like that, you’re asking for trouble.

Hopefully by the time they're sentenced there is something on Facebook I can like that will make sure they get 25 years.

So it can be clarified that you don't really care about the crime, but do think 25 years is a suitable prison sentence because they told lies in a smug way.

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That they'd likely get many years in prison for it? I'm sure everyone would know this. You cannot seriously think you can smuggle the amount of coke they tried to smuggle and expect to get a slap on the wrist ffs

.

I can remember a case in either an Asian or African state about 15 years ago, where a guy had been caught drug smuggling, he was awaiting execution for his crime. He was crying as he told his story to the reporters, of how he wasn't aware that there was a death penalty if he was caught. He wasn't the brightest of people and it was obvious he'd had no real education and had been lured with easy money. I watched that interview and I remember it as I had just done my Masters degree, and also I had no idea that the death penalty applied in that country and neither did any of the people I mentioned it to either. I see no reason why these two girls should be aware of the 25 year prison sentence in Peru either.

Unknown Soldier · 08-23-2013, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christian Benteke

So punish the drug barons as well then. These shouldn't get off just because the barons are paying people off.

....and how do you propose that's done. Having the Americans or the UN invade?

08-23-2013, 12:17 PM	#65 (permalink)
Trollheart Born to be mild Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: 404 Not Found Posts: 26,970	I don't get why you guys don't seem to think this is a big deal. Seriously, what would you have happen? It's not like they tried to smuggle a small amount of coke in: it was eleven kilos! That's like filling my biggest, fattest cat up with coke and then cloning him twice and filling those two up also. That is a LOT of coke! This is no "oh we didn't know" situation: these girls clearly knew they were taking a risk but decided the money was worth it. How US can say they may not have known Peruvian law is beyond me: it's well known that countries outside of Europe have harsher laws for drug smuggling to try and reduce it. Anyway, if they were going to do this do you not think they would have checked out the penalties if they were caught? If they didn't they were either monumentally stupid or believed there was no chance they would get caught OR if they did, they could lie their way out of it. Nobody likes being used. People have been used here: used to try to protest the innocence of two stupid women who do not deserve it, and people are angry at them. I can't understand your tolerance for this sort of thing. Why should it NOT be a big deal? What sort of message does it send to future would-be smugglers if these people are not clamped down upon hard? And yes, I know the barons get off because they can pay, but hey that's just how the world works. Same as when the scandal in Abu Gharib broke: who went down? A few soldiers and some bog-level officers. No top brass, even though it was clear they knew and had possibly condoned this behaviour. If this was an ideal world ALL of the guilty would be punished but it's not and sometimes it's the foot soldiers who pay. The fact that they are willing to BE footsoldiers makes them just as guilty and just as liable to prosecution as the bosses. __________________ Trollheart: Signature-free since April 2018

08-23-2013, 12:50 PM	#68 (permalink)
~~Cuthbert~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: The Black Country Posts: 8,827	So punish the drug barons as well then. These shouldn't get off just because the barons are paying people off.