I am a Smuggler USA to Mexico
Wednesday, August 19th, 2009Mariachi Band Guadalajara
In the 80s, when I was around 22 tears of age I was living in New York City and had nothing going for me. I just dropped out of NYU, with a year left to graduate for a business degree. I did not want to work on Wall Street and saw no reason to finish the university program. So, I dropped out of school.
With nothing to do and not interested in finding a job, one day, I decided to hit the road. I bought a Greyhound bus ticket from NYC to Los Angeles. It was really cheap, like 69 usd, and the trip would take 5 days. I took the Northern route to the West coast, via Chicago not Southern route via Carolinas. I boarded the bus at Port Authority at 42nd street and we headed South West to Pennsylvania. I think around New Jersey a cute black chick boarded the bus and set next to me. We talked a lot and she let me play with her tities but would not let me go further than that. She got off the bus at Cleveland Ohio. I love minority ladies Black, Latinos, and Asian. They have lots of zest for life.
At Chicago Illinois two young hipsters got on the bus, a white dude and a black kid. They set at the back of the bus, with the black kid sitting down next to a sweet red head girl. I was bored sitting at the front of the bus by myself, so I went to join them. The guys were really funny and made a lot of jokes. We smoked some reefer. The bus driver did not seem to care, but a few passengers switched their seats. Then the black kid took the red head girl to the toilet, and they fucked there. You just knew they were getting it on, with all the moaning and groaning going on. The kids got off at Lincoln Nebraska. I was stuck by myself left watching the vast Nebraska corn and potato barren fields. Misery at its worst!
We passed Colorado, which was pleasant, winding around mountains and hills; we arrived in Salt Lake City Utah. I lit up a cigarette before getting off the bus. The bus driver told me to put it out! I said, “What the fuck?” Remember it was still the 80s and you were allowed to smoke on public buses. The bus driver replied, “You know, I can get you arrested for cursing in public? In Utah you are not allowed to smoke on public busses, least of all curse in public!” I knew I was in molasses, so I apologized to the guy for cursing and put out my cigarette. I knew, I never wanted to visit Utah again!
From Utah we passed through Nevada via Lake Tahoe, down to California. It was a very scenic route with pine trees, rivers, and hilltops. Driving over the Golden Gate Bridge was really the apex of the trip. There was the whole Pacific Ocean right in front of you. I knew there were many places I wanted to revisit and spend some time in; but I still was not sure where I wanted to go, and what I wanted to do. Right before arriving in Los Angeles I met a couple of dudes on the bus who told me I should buy some electronic stuff and bring it to Mazatlan, Mexico. They told me that I could sell it there for profit. They also said that Mexicans love American made stuff. Now, armed with a plan, I knew I was going to Mexico.
East L.A. was kind of shabby, with drunks and drug addicts wondering the streets in a half dazed manner! They looked like they were ready to fall down and hit the pavement, just supported by a few strings as if slumbering puppets at the end of their performance. I did not spend much time in Los Angeles. I found an electronics shop and bought me 130 usd jukebox! We use to call them Ghetto Blasters! It had a radio, two speakers, and two cassette tape players. Good deal at that time. I figured I could sell it for about 200 usd in Mexico. Buying one was a test run, to see how things go. I got back on the bus and headed to San Diego.
In San Diego I almost got me a tattoo, but I got scared at the last moment. Glad I did not. I was thinking, “MOTHER”. In San Diego I got on a tramp that took me to San Ysidro, which is right on USA and Mexican border – USA side. I crossed the border by foot over a bridge to Tijuana. Once in Mexico, I decided I needed a bit of rest. I checked into a 10 usd hotel and crashed for a few hours. That evening I checked out the nightlife. I went to a few bars and drank Cerveza. I also visited a few whorehouses and did my thing!
Next day I felt fresh and rejuvenated and was ready to tackle the world. I found out that I could get to Mazatlan by train from Mexicali. I figured taking a train is better than 48 hours by bus. Was I wrong, but you learn from your experience. I took a 4 hours bus ride from Tijuana to Mexicali. There I got on a train and relaxed. I was so exhausted that I fell asleep. When I awoke, I realized my stereo box was gone. I fell asleep holding it in my hands, but when I woke up it was nowhere to be found. As I looked around, I saw a Mexican guy running away with my stereo box. I ran after him, but I could not catch him. I spoke to police, but there was nothing they could do.
I was really in disarray and very upset. I decided to spend a night at this town called Hermosillo. The town was very pleasant with small parks and chirping birds that flew in and out of the tall Maple and Eucalyptus trees. I hung out in one of these parks and watched the sunset. Later, I had a few Beef Tacos from a peddler and walked around the small city window-shopping. I noticed that Levi’s 501 jeans here are sold for 60 usd, while in USA I could buy them for 20 usd. I spoke to a drug store clerk, who spoke English well. I told her my story of having my stereo box stolen. She told me that Mexicans are crazy for American goods. I asked her, “If I would bring Levi’s jeans and try to sell them for 40 usd, would Mexicans buy them from me?” She said, “Seguro!” – for sure! I knew I had to go back to L.A. and buy more American goods.
The next day I was back to Mexicali on a train. From Mexicali I went by bus to Tijuana. In Tijuana at the border crossing the US official asked me if I am American. I just showed him my NYC driver license and he let me pass. I was an American legal resident with a green card, not American citizen, but at that time the border rules were not as strict as now. Anyway, pass through immigration, nothing to declare to customs I was in San Ysidro. I figured to check out a few local beaches from San Diego to Los Angeles. I hitched along the way on the highway. I did not have much money left, so I slept on a beach and hung out with bums and drank MD 20/20 wine! We call it Mad Dog!
Once in East L.A., I picked up a new stereo box and bought 30 pairs of Levi’s jeans. No problems with the locals, just a few drug dealers tried to intimidate me by staring me down. I just kept walking, paying them no mind. That evening I took a Greyhound bus to San Diego and crossed the border to Tijuana. I realized that taking a Mexican train is dangerous and did not want my stuff stolen once again. I decided to do the 48 hours air-conditioned bus ride to Mazatlan. I got on a bus in Tijuana, and rested until 3 hours later we came to a border check point. The actual Mexican customs is not at Tijuana but 3 hours inland. I did not know about this. I thought I cleared customs already. I had my 30 jeans stuffed in my army duffle bag, and my stereo box in my hands. I was a bit worried that I might be forced to pay duty fee. Shaking inside of me, fortified on fear of being caught, I came over to the examiner’s table. The customs officer pointed to my bag and said, “Ropa?” – clothes! I said, “See!” – Yes. With a grinning smile he said, “Vale, Salir!” – You can pass! I was really happy! Later I found out that the reason American goods were much more expensive in Mexico compared to USA was because of high import tax
44 hours later I arrived in Mazatlan, exhausted from a long bus ride, but very Feliz – Happy! I checked into an old dilapidated hotel in the old part of Mazatlan Riviera! It was by the beach, but you could not swim there and had to walk about 10 minutes up the beach to find smooth sand for getting into the water. Otherwise there were no complaints, and the price was really cheap – 15 usd a day! There was a swimming pool at the hotel, the building was colonial type, and the furniture a bit old but was very comfortable. So overall, great deal for the bucks paid! After checking in, I asked a reception worker as to where I can sell my Levi’s jeans. Not only he bought two pairs from me, but also he recommended that I go to El Mercado and peddle them there. Later I went to the market and sold out of most of them in an hour or so.
The rest of a few pairs that I had left I offered to friends and people around where I hung out. The most popular size was 28 inches, so I had a few big sizes left. When people bought the jeans, they did not try them on, but measured the fit by sticking their elbow into the jeans’ waste to get a perfect fit! There was this one guy who sold Mariscos – Ceviche. He was a pain in the ass because he wanted a discount, and I did not give it to him. He told me if I do not give him a discount, he would complain to Mexian immigration about me that I am working illegally in Mexico. The first few days I would not give in, but just kept going to his stall to eat Mariscos, which were very good. Finally I relented and give him a big discount. After that he gave me a discount on my Mariscos. So I probably got back from him more than I gave to him, in discount. But one day, when I tried to extend my Mexican visa in Mazatlan the immigration officer said that someone complained that I was working there illegally, and he told me that he would not be able to extend my visa. He said I could go to a different city to do it, which I did. I wonder if the Fat Mariscos Man squealed on me? Well, that is life!
There were other shifty and shady characters that I got friendly with in Mazatlan. There was this restaurant owner, a sort of Mafioso type. He ordered Nike sneakers – Air Jordan’s and American made Parliament cigarettes. He was really eccentric. Kind of looked like Lary Flint, but a bit fatter! He and his family bought a lot of stuff from me. Every time I went back to USA for a new load, after I came back, he was the first guy I went to see. He never bargained with me or asked for a discount. Every time I delivered the goods, he treated me to a dish of Mariscos pasta. Another interesting friend that I made was a Mexican law student who was completing his law studies. He worked as a Legal aid for Fisherman’s cooperative. He use to do all kind of weird stuff, like fish for lobsters illegally – out of allowed season. We use to eat Mariscos together and drink Corona beers! One day he took me up to a Marijuana plantation, up in the Selva – Jungle. Towards the end of my stay in Mexico, he passed his law exam and became a full-fledged lawyer. He bragged to me that he was doing law work for Colombian drug cartel boss Pablo Escobar. I do not know if it was true or not, but you never know with these Mexicans.
I must have gone to USA and back to Mazatlan more than a dozen times. But one of these times I had a problem. When I went through the Mexican customs via bus route they caught me and would not let me pass into Mexico. I tried to do a smart move and hitched a ride with a Mexican who was crossing through a checkpoint by private pick up truck. But it did not work out well. They asked me to show them all my merchandize, and upon examining it they levied a hefty duty fine. The fine was larger than the value of the merchandize so I decided not to cross to Mexico proper. I just turned around and walked into a small Mexican town, right next to the customs check point. I was really angry and hungry. A peddler was cooking bull steak, and it looked and smelled really good. In fury I grabbed the steak off the grill and devoured it. It was delicious! A few hours later, I went for the train crossing. This time, I held my stuff very tight. 24 hours later I arrived to Mazatlan without a wink of sleep. I was relived that all went well.
I must have done this for about 8 months. It was really fun and I learned how to speak Spanish really well. I did my runs, and then I hung out on the beach bullshiting with tourists and exchanging Mexican Pesos for US dollars. The exchange rate at the bank was very lousy so they were happy to make a better deal! One day I even met a beautiful Japanese girl. When I was exchanging money in a Zocalo – Main plaza I came over to her offering to exchange her dollars for pesos, but she was interested in making an international phone call to Japan. I brought her to my hotel room and let her use my phone. She even gave me money for the phone call. After the phone call we wound up making crazy love. When we finished making love, we went to take a shower together. I placed my wallet under the mattress. She brought her wallet into the shower. We did not trust each other when it came to money, but love was ok! At the end, when I asked her to stay with me, she said that she has a boyfriend waiting for her at the beach! Life is Strange!
