MovieChat Forums > Maria Full of Grace (2004) Discussion > Why didn't the smuggler give her a bette...

Why didn't the smuggler give her a better cover story?


Seems like he should have researched a bit on what kinds of legitimate reasons Colombians have for travelling to the U.S., and set her up with a good story, with real people to contact, and have her practice it well. After all, losing just one mule to prison loses them a huge amount of money, not to mention the risk that the mule will talk and connect the authorities back to the cartel. Much better to prepare them well to get them past the cops.

The other thing I wondered was why she signed the X-ray form. I guess if she had refused, they would make her wait until she passed the pellets? Still, apparently the other woman did sign it, which seems mad: if you are not pregnant, signing that is curtains for you. You might end up going the same way if you don't sign it, but what's the point of signing?

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1) Drug bosses want their operations to succeed, but they still let some things to be the mules' responsabilities. Regular bosses do that to their employees too sometimes. They're like "Hey! I'm paying you AND I'm paying for your trip! You slob expect me to come up with a cover for you as well?! Do it yourself!".

2) If you don't sign it, you'll look guilty. And that would give them a reason to arrest you without looking for evidence first.

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But if you do sign it, you will definitely get caught. It's kind of like if you are Tony Soprano and the police ask to look in your trunk, where you have stashed some guy you just whacked. If you refuse to let them look, yes: it looks suspicious. But there is at least some small chance that refusing will save you (otherwise they wouldn't even have to ask). If you agree, you are 100% guaranteed to be caught. Why make it so easy for the cops?

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See a list of my favourite films here: http://www.flickchart.com/slackerinc

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Usually when you get caught doing something, you pretend to be innocent until there's physical evidence, no matter how obvious it is. Admitting it might make the people who caught you be easy on you, but in that type of situation, one doesn't think straight. Self-preservation comes first because it's an instinct.

Also, sometimes there's a possibility that if you delay things, it might save you. And that's exactly what happened to MARÍA. If TONY SOPRANO was in this situation, he would also delay until one of his friends can whack the cops.

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This is going to sound ugly, but maybe she was hoping the baby would block the view of the pellets.

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Is that possible?

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(shrug) Like I said, hoping.

Also, what you said-- she was being compliant until she could think of some way to get out of it.

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I agree she could have gotten a better cover story, though-- why couldn't they have recruited somebody to play the "sister" and provided a valid phone number for them to call?

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1) Drug bosses want their operations to succeed, but they still let some things to be the mules' responsabilities. Regular bosses do that to their employees too sometimes. They're like "Hey! I'm paying you AND I'm paying for your trip! You slob expect me to come up with a cover for you as well?! Do it yourself!".


So in other words, these bosses will give up however much value the pellets represent (several thousand dollars? Possibly six figures? What they pay the mules is probably a tiny percentage), because they're too lazy to come up with good cover stories for their mules? "Well that's not my job, that's your job"? Really? Not very smart businessmen.

The fact that an operation failing will cost them a ton more than they're paying the mule, would make me think that they would facilitate a cover story the best they can, which takes minor effort on their part (they know people in the US, the mules usually don't), in order to better ensure success of the operation. Why would they quibble over that little bit of work on their part? Unless they're too douchebaggy for their own good as businessmen in a dangerous business.

The phrase "cutting off one's nose to spite one's face" comes to mind.


Understanding is a three-edged sword.

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I don't really think better cover story would change much, in the end you are stuck up with 18yo girl (according fake passport or 17yo if they used real age) who comes from extremely poor country and comes to US for 1 week only (?) with quite small baggage for someone from poor country (these people usually bring tons of things especially when visiting relatives).

What should they do was book ticket for much longer period, more like 3-4 weeks at least to make it plausible she is visiting family so she wanna stay longer than one week, she should have also tons of baggage (she can throw away at destination) and they should have some contact in US who will confirm they bought ticket for her and she is visiting them.

As for X-ray, I was under impression they can't force you to sign it, but they can put you into detention if you don't cooperate so it will come out naturally unless they have some limit for detention like 24-48 hours in which case you could stand a chance holding it inside for duration of period, of course this should be researched by smugglers with clear instructions to mule what to do in this case, it seem very careless from smugglers they didn't care about ticket, contacts, baggage and instructions with preparation interview.

Peter Markoff
The best - Fight Club, American Beauty & Falling Down.

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