El Ingeniero (The Engineer)

 
You've probably read articles about how sophisticated Mexican drug cartels have become.  Cartels have diversified from drug trafficking into other money-making business opportunities including music/DVD pirating, prostitution, human smuggling, extortion, and kidnapping.  Selling drugs does not seem to be the money maker it was due to increased US-Mexico border security, Mexican government involvement and fighting for drug trafficking routes amongst cartels.  Either way, many of these opportunities require that cartel members use vehicles, sometimes stolen, to conduct day to day business activities.

Last Saturday, I found, through conversations with a well known individual, that local cartel members have frequent contact with an engineer whom specializes in providing security codes that can be easily used for auto and auto parts theft.  The person I had been talking to was trying to sell off a stolen high tech stereo from a 2010 SUV that had been supposedly stolen for parts.  His asking price was $300 US dollars.  The system supposedly retails for more than $900.  He had paid $100 US dollars for it.  He commented that cartel members have highly skilled people working for them such as lawyers, accountants, and engineers all within a phone call away.

I started to wonder about the engineer my associate talked about.  I imagined that he was probably in his late 20's, well dressed, slick hair, drove a fancy car, and, pretty much, did as he pleased.  I presumed that the Engineer probably started as a normal college student with aspirations to work for a large corporate company with intentions to make an honest living for the rest of his life.  After graduating, he probably repeatedly attempted to find work.  He got tired of looking.  He was approached by a cartel member with a job opportunity and, in desperation, he accepted.  Maybe not.  Maybe he was fortunate enough to have a job after graduating college and he was significantly underpaid and decided to work for the cartel because he would earn more money.  For whatever reason, he decided to pursue a career with the local drug trafficking syndicate.

I'm not sure how I would react to a job offer like that.  I'd be scared out of my mind, but I am 100% sure I would respectfully decline assuming my life or the lives of those I care about are not going to be harmed.  I'd decline because I have a choice and having a choice is a luxury in of itself.