Migration is [Black Market] Business on Mexico’s Southern Border

El Rio Suchiate, photo CARLOS LOPEZ PAULUK/2011

The Suchiate River separates Mexico from Guatemala. As Marketplace reports, the river is a hotbed of clandestine trade.

People cross freely from Guatemala to Mexico, despite urging from the U.S. that Mexico “seal this river.”

What you may not realize, however, is the frequency with which goods travel from Mexico to Guatemala. “The spread between the Mexican peso and the Guatemalan quetzal means Mexico’s a bargain for Guatemalans.” And crossing the river instead of at an authorized checkpoint means saving even more on customs and taxes.

-KitJ