I just got this in an email from a friend. The following pics show the ‘finds’ at a drug bust of Mexican drug dealers. I couldn’t resist posting them here.
Believe it or not – there were several more – but I guess you get the picture. My friend speculated that they’d just paid off Mexico’s national debt. I’d say that and possibly the purchase of a couple of small countries.
Wow, don’t you just love capitalism?
WC
PS: The sad thing though is that all that money represents drugs coursing through somebody’s system. Gives you pause, eh?
Anita Rodgers Mystery Writer 
“Oh-kay, I’m reloading…” It’s like Carlito’s Way only real. I can’t wrap my mind around that much money. And did the authorities get the dope too?
I don’t know Puddle – it didn’t say. The pics really floored me. It’s very different when you see it with your own eyeballs, isn’t it?
WC
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It’s like monopoly money to me. I can only comprehend small amounts at any given time, like…a thousand bucks, and I’m rich.
Yeah, it is sort of like that, huh? I’m with you, strictly small time when it comes to money. I have a little cash stash I keep for emergencies – sometimes I take it out and count it and think…’ooohh, it’s all mine’ LOL – a drop in the bucket compared to this.
WC
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I’ve seen it before, anonymum. According to a quick search, it was 250 million dollars.
I’ve always wondered what they did with drug money. With that kind of dough, we could find a cure for cancer, or we could buy brain surgery for Oprah to make her stop exploiting her philanthropy. The possibilities are endless!
Hey DT,
I’m not sure 250 mil could find a cure for cancer – but it sure could help in places like St. Jude’s Hospital – senior centers, food banks, all kinds of things. As to Oprah, she has plenty of bucks for her own surgery – but I’m with you on that whole exploitation of her charities thing.
WC
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Holy…Cow…(That’s right…Holy Cow.) I am stunned, as well as my co-workers. We are all just stunned.
Me too! I wonder if this is common? Too bad they don’t donate it to the writer’s relief fund, eh? 😉
WC
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I just want 1% of that. Or two. Or nine.
I’ll tell you what, let’s go for an even 20% and we’ll split it down the middle. How does that sound? 😉
WC
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There are so many hungry children in the world.
It’s diabolical- all this money for drugs, all the moms and dads strung out, all the kids that have over-dosed, families turned out on the street, street violence- all to escape exactly what we help to create. i am saddened to the core.
The love of money truly is the root of all evil.
Hey Christine,
You’re right. Greed and addiction are a lethal combination. What is so reprehensible about it to me, is that that money came from addictive compulsions – and that those who reaped it like nothing more than to increase those addictive compulsions. To me, it shows a true hatred for their fellow man.
WC
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Hi WC,
In the US, any money or property suspected of being associated with drug sales goes to the Government Agency that found it. You should note, that they don’t have to charge, or even arrest anyone in connection with the confiscation. Thus, for example, if you get caught in a sting operation buying “drugs” from an undercover agent, they can take your car and let you go. If you get caught selling drugs, they can assume that your house, bank accounts, car, boat, and whatever else you own, was bought with profits from drug sales, and cease it. You have a certain amount of time to prove them wrong, then they auction it off and keep the proceeds.
In Mexico, my understanding is that the police involved pocket a cut, the rest gets passed up the line of corrupt officials, each taking a slice off the top, until nothing is left.
the Grit
Hi Grit,
I have to say, I am so glad we are pals. You always know this cool stuff and I can always rely on you to inform me of it. It pays to know people, I’m telling you, it really does. And you know…the two systems actually don’t sound all that different to me.
I think that all money seized from drug busts ought to go into things that serve to better the communities in which they happen. Say if this was a bust in El Centro, CA then the money should be spent on summer camps for the local children, community centers for local families, local charities, food banks and such. That way, the money somehow ends up doing good. God knows, our tax dollars do plenty to fund gov’t agencies.
WC
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The war on drugs is a fucking joke. There is far too much money to be made in the illegal trade to stop it.
Well, I certainly agree that they way they handle it doesn’t seem to yield much in the result department. But I think as a society, we have to draw boundaries, even if it seems futile. True, there is lots of money in it and a lot of greed motivating people, but personally, I’d rather not make it easier for them. Just my opinion.
WC
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This is an amazing visual 🙂 While it was generated from something very harmful, here’s what I’m picking up:
There is NO shortage of money! It just depends on who has it. It’s awesome, really, from that standpoint. I’m using a couple of those pictures to help me with some visualizations that I’m doing ! LOL Who says you can’t have it all? And I want it so I can do the things that matter to me…the environment, peace activism, taking good care of my family and friends.
And I think I’ll get a cruise in there too, just because I can.
Hi Grace,
Thanks for visiting. It’s nice to see someone trying to turn a negative into a positive. No, there is no shortage of money or resources, it would seem. And I like that you would use the money toward healthy and positive ends. I’m totally with you on that.
WC
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Hm, yes, since the money isn’t burned just because some people lost it, others gained it. Would explain why more efforts are made going after known gangsters then setting up prevention measures to the drug trade in the first place, i.e. supporting local farmers.
Having said that supporting farmers takes money, which Mexico for example doesn’t have, unless they get it from somewhere….. let’s see….
and all we need to do is once in a while leak a big bust to the press and we get too look like we are really cracking down on trafficking.
I agree with something you said in a much earlier post. ‘Wouldn’t you think that if we (humans, governments etc) really would have wanted to fix it, we would have fixed it by now?”. Countries, governments, people are benefitting from all the problems that we seem incable of getting a grip on, which is precisely why the world will have to come to an end first before it can all start all over again…….
Nuff said…….
Hey Spaz,
I’m not clear on how supporting local farmers would prevent illegal drug trafficking. Mexico has plenty of money, but most of it is held by the upper classes and politicians. They use the money for themselves rather than create an infrastructure and create a middle class in Mexico. They appear to want to keep the caste system in place and keep most of their citizens poor and then make them the responsibility of other countries, such as the U.S. In fact, Mexico is rich in resources – we get a large percentage of our oil from Mexico – so the money and resources are there – they just aren’t being used to alleviate the problems you speak of.
Yes, absolutely, if Mexico (for example) wanted to fix the problem then they would. And absolutely, I agree that there are those who exploit and use the money for their own purposes. But I also believe that the underlying problem is that drug abuse has not been truly addressed. For all the programs and good intentions out there and in the case of the U.S. the billions of dollars spent to solve the problem, they haven’t succeeded. I’m not sure though that it’s for any lack or trying or wanting to – I actually think it has more to do with the fact that they simply don’t know how.
As always, great comments my friend.
WC
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I wasn’t really making a factual statement rather then a sarcastic comment about a catch 22 angle.
Based on my experiences with drug prevention workshops, and drug use itself, I don’t really believe in government organised drug use prevention programs at the end of the chain, the only place where I can see governments being successfull is at the source. But again, this is a complex issue, add it to the ‘drink’ list, yes? 😉
Okay, I get it. Yeah, the government programs don’t seem to solve much of anything. Personally, I’m more of a libertarian – governments should protect borders and fix roads and stay out of pretty much everything else, if you ask me.
WC
PS: boy we are racking up plenty of topics for our pub date – we may have to do a whole weekend. 😉
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WC: This cash horde is amazing. I just saw on TV tonight the tactics the Illegals use when crossing the border with heavy lethal stone throwing at the border cops when they aprehend someone. Another is a mass full speed assult by numerous illegals at once with stone overwhelming the police. If they get hurt the courts blame our guys. This is pathetic………steve
Hey Steve,
The irony is something isn’t it? I just don’t even know what to say about such things anymore – it’s depressing.
WC
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“We don’t need no steenking C notes!”
Gobsmacked. Scary, actually.
~m
Yeah, ain’t it? Just think – you, me and a few of our closest friends could pay off mortgages and take one year writer sabbiticals with that dough. Instead, it’s going to flap jackets and surveillance equipment. Jeesh!
WC
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The rehab racket is big business here in the US – the rehabs, the doctors, the lawyers, the agencies and I don’t know whoall are all making huge money on keeping addicts sick and coming back for more. It’s not like they are in the business of helping people like they would like people to think.
I’ve seen so many people go through those places and even knew one guy who had been to the VA hospital rehab 19 times – and he went back out and used again.
What’s the solution? Damned if I know.
I agree Ruby – quite a bit of false advertising when it comes to results, huh? Don’t think I know the answer either. Darn.
WC
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Hi WC,
The feeling is mutual. Seeing what you find interesting gives me a valuable level on what’s important in world events. I also like the occasional chance to show off 🙂
As to where the confiscated money goes, Memphis funds all of its anti-drug police efforts from this source, and there is enough left over to pay some of their other costs. I still think it’s evil, but at least I’m not having to pay for it.
the Grit
Hi Grit,
Well at least it sounds like Memphis is trying to do something useful with the dough.
Aw…I’m your example of a trendsetter? Yikes. You might want to rethink that one. 😆
WC
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I am very sorry to tell you that this is not Mexico, these are not Mexicans….this took place in Colombia…and this mony and guns belonged to Juan C. “Chupeta” Ramirez…a big drug lord from colombia…captured in Brazil last year….
Alrighty then, thanks for the heads up.
WC
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