Part 5/12:
One smuggler, identified as "Mario," describes how his operations involve bribing officials at multiple stations and helping clients avoid customs inspection, with typical costs ranging from $5,000 to $8,000 per person. He admits that his profit margins are slim, around $400 per individual, emphasizing the danger and difficulty in maintaining these operations amid increasingly strict border enforcement.
The smugglers also aim to assure migrants of safety—promising protection from kidnapping, assault, or violence. However, their assurances mask the brutal reality: migrants often find themselves at the mercy of violent gangs, corrupt officials, and the perilous natural environment.