John Wilkes Booth

Sure, but since he was pointing to corrupt airport officials I got the impression we were talking about a commercial jet and not a private plane.

Trollheart

How do you know I wear knickers? Who's been talking?

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Unknown Soldier

Firstly, this is not as straight-forward as you're implying. For example, if a prison sentence of 25 years for murder is dropped to say 15 years, I wouldn't say that the murder rate of a country would go up, for the simple reason that the mindset of a murderer isn't focused on getting caught. On the other hand, if we're talking about shoplifters who were getting reduced sentences for stealing, then I'd agree lower sentences would encourage greater stealing as it's a casual crime. Now if we look at drug trafficking, again a person that does this is of a particular mindset that has to often travel halfway around the world to commit the crime and take a huge personal risk in an often alien environment and is often aware that on completion of the crime, they may not even get fully paid for their services, along with having nerves of steel (the two accused girls excepted here) For these reasons alone, a rigid 5 year community programme in the country where the crime is committed is as good a deterrent as 25 years in prison, because if people are willing to risk 25 years, it shows that the penalty is ineffective.

To be honest I'm punching in the dark here with you, as I don't know how you actually feel about the crime that has been committed (innocent til proven guilty of course) as you've questioned certain aspects of what I've said, without actually stating your own personal opinion (if you have then excuse me)

I'm not sure if you've understood what I was implying here. Firstly in this case, Peruvian officials are only responsible for what goes on in their own country, and by and large here in Europe customs officials to a degree rely on the efficiency of the Peruvian system. I've flown in and out of a number of Latin American countries over the years and one thing is certain, they are stringent on both locals and foreigners when leaving the country on long haul flights, but when the passengers reach European soil, all EU citizens basically walk through, with the chances of being stopped very slim, but that is not the case say for a Peruvian, who as a non-EU citizen will then face another lot of stringent checks for a second time, for this reason alone, the drug barons prefer European mules. So you see, the Peruvian officials have created a bottleneck at the airport, which should be able to nab nearly all kinds of smuggling if they weren't so corrupt.

I've not even thought about private planes, but then again I don't much know about custom controls for them.

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John Wilkes Booth

It seems like with a for-profit crime like drug smuggling, risk assessment would be a pretty significant part of deciding whether or not one is willing to do it. They would most certainly be thinking about getting caught, so I don't think the murder vs theft analogy really works here.
I don't care that much about the crime. I've only questioned practical aspects of what you've said, as that's more interesting to me than what happens to these two women. If anything I'd say the worst part of the crime is providing bread and butter for the cartels.
That makes sense. I did understand what you were implying, but I didn't know how the European customs worked.

Unknown Soldier

The analogy was just used, to demonstrate the mindsets of the perpetrators involved here. Sure one is for economic profit and the other usually for selfish emotional profit (depending on the circumstances). But both are more or less treated equally in Peru. Drug mules getting upto 25 years and murderers upto 28 years, that's around 3 years difference. These are two crimes that I see as being world's apart in terms of seriousness and scope, and therefore I think they should be treated distinctly.

Fair enough.

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Unknown Soldier

Reading yesterday that these two girls if they were to plead guilty, would have their sentences more than halved to 6-7 years each. One of the girl's fathers has even suggested to his daughter that pleading guilty is the best option here. Again this shows the callousness of the Peruvian system, because even if you aren't guilty, it's probably still the best option if caught to actually plead guilty anyway, as the chances of justice inside the courtroom are not great and then the accused is left with the burden of a 15 to 25 year sentence.

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Scarlett O'Hara

I think getting the sentences reduced is a great idea. It's still a decent punishment but they have 5-7 years to grow up, get educated and end up better people for it. This may not be the case but I think they have mixed themselves in the wrong situation and by pleaing guilty they might put off other European young adults from repeating the same mistakes.

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Unknown Soldier

Their credibility gets even more damning with this article from an ex-boyfriend, who accuses them as well (basically just echoing most other people's belief in the matter) He's the brute with the tattoos

Peru Two 'knew what they were involved in' and I told them not to do it, says fraudster ex-boyfriend who dated one of them in Ibiza | Mail Online

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4gotmyPW

Lol, I can't believe people are still smuggling drugs.

loveissucide

If nothing else this case might draw some attention to the plight of drug mules who don't enjoy the benefit of mass media coverage.

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