Sadie Villars' Story All Too Common

(Aired on June 21, 2010)

The sad story of a young woman charged with smuggling drugs across the border is a far too common one, and unfortunately, we're only scratching the tip of the iceberg. Sadie Villars was arrested after border agents found her carrying bags of ecstasy tablets under her clothes as she crossed the border into the U.S. last week. Apparently, she was carrying the drugs for the quick cash, according to her mom.

These so-called drug mules are roped into the job for a variety of reasons. They may be trying to pay off a debt, either a personal debt or a debt to some criminal element who wants payback. Or they may do it because they think they'll get some quick cash for some baubles and toys and live the high life.

Many think they'll do it a couple of times and get out, but the problem is that once they start, getting out is difficult even if you put aside the attraction of the quick cash. Drug lords can put a lot of pressure on you once you're in. And as the drug trade heats up, more and more of these mules are being used to transport drugs, not just across the border between the U.S. and Canada, but around the world. And criminals are finding more and more tricks up their sleeves to avoid detection. But if these mules are ever caught, they're likely too scared to squeal on those who hired them, if they even know who hired them. And those higher up the ladder are so far removed from the chain they will never be associated with some kid who is picked up crossing the line.

Tracking down illicit drugs is almost like a crap shoot these days. The police do their best, but search warrants aren't easy to come by, privacy laws are so bad that the guilty often get more protection than the innocent, and unless police get lucky, many of these criminals continue to walk free. We will see many more stories about people like Sadie Villars. Unfortunately, it's a sign of the times we live in.