Beginning Mule-work

Abstract

After respondents agreed to work as a mule, a chain of events was set in motion. Contacts spoke to traffickers; organisers bought aeroplane tickets and communicated with a second set of contacts in Ecuador who would ensure that drugs (usually cocaine, but sometimes heroin) would be packed and ready for the mule. Donna’s first trip as a mule was organised by a close friend. She had worked with him recruiting mules. She wanted to postpone the trip, but could not:

The first time that I did it, I was scared. I had to leave on my birthday. I said to the guy I was working for, I go, ‘Let’s wait a week, I don’t wanna go now… I wanna have my birthday party here with all of you not… [but he said] ‘Donna, I need it now, I need the money now. We need it now.’