Comments on: Busted in Nicaragua: A Drug Charge, Jail, and a Narrow Escape from Hell

By: Adrian

Adrian — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 12:21:38 +0000

It’s a good story — still, if there’s one thing you should know is not to mess with drugs, guns or anything else potentially illegal. The rules for the locals often do not apply to us in the same way. Any idiot could’ve told you that.

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By: Charlotte

Charlotte — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 01:30:42 +0000

I’m a pot smoker, and I totally sympathized. This story had me in a panic, and proud in the end. It was entertaining and informing. It was an experience that had to be told of.

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By: phil

phil — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 19:34:28 +0000

except for the fact that he now knows that jails in south-America suck,
he also learned that no matter what people do or say u should stick to your opinion
and not be a tool of a corrupt executive, “high five” friend for righting about your experience i think we could all learn a little off of this

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By: Emily

Emily — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 21:27:03 +0000

No one said Costa Rica was free of danger. They said drug charges weren’t as strongly enforced. Your story has nothing to do with drugs and is thus irrelevant.

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By: Rebecca

Rebecca — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 01:41:02 +0000

On the upside, now you can tell friends and family that you are a fugitive in certain countries!

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By: lynstly

lynstly — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 01:45:37 +0000

One also needs to keep in mind that despite what movies and even the news depicts, most countries in South America look at drug offenses very seriously (officially). There are a couple of reasons, first of all, we all know where cocaine comes from. If an American agency takes a look at a South American country and sees that they aren’t arresting American’s on drug offenses, they’re going to take a hard look at that country’s drug trafficking problems. None of these countries want that reputation. Another reason, also related to reputation is that they don’t want to become what is known as a “drug tourism” destination. I would be glad you were able to slip out of there after only a few days, they could have kept you in that dingy cell for months if they wanted. Next time if you’re in a public place with weed, keep the damn bag in your pocket.

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By: Davidlohr

Davidlohr — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 15:51:17 +0000

I hope you changed the name of the guy who helped you out, you know anyone can read this…

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By: Christine

Christine — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 21:08:53 +0000

Absolutely! And it goes to show how we all can read things differently, depending both on who we are and even what space we are in at the moment.

And thanks, Ben, for engaging in the conversation and not getting upset about the comments. Can’t say I always do the same!

I thought it was an amazing piece.

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By: Sarah Menkedick

Sarah Menkedick — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 14:47:56 +0000

I second that, Hal!

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By: Sarah Menkedick

Sarah Menkedick — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 14:46:25 +0000

Thanks for sharing this story, Heather. Wow. Really intense. It makes you think about what locals in that country must go through. What if your Dad had been Costa Rican? Scary. I wonder what those two guys who were in the Nicaraguan prison with Ben are dealing with right now.

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