Ep 5. Mexico

In the fifth episode of the first season of Locked Up Abroad, titled "Mexico," viewers are introduced to a man named Tijuana Tim. Tim, a construction worker from California, decides to cross the border into Tijuana, Mexico to party with his friends. While there, Tim meets a man who offers him a chance to earn some quick cash by smuggling cocaine into the United States. Tim, desperate for money, agrees to the offer.

Tim makes the mistake of not only accepting the offer but also deciding to take matters into his own hands and travel with the drugs back to the United States. From there, things spiral out of control. Tim makes careless decisions that ultimately lead to his arrest and imprisonment in a Mexican jail. He soon realizes that his first-time drug smuggling attempt is not something to be taken lightly. Tim is left alone in a foreign prison, not speaking the language and not knowing when or if he will ever see his family and friends again.

Locked Up Abroad takes the viewer through Tim’s experience from start to finish, detailing every moment of his arrest, interrogation, and imprisonment. The episode touches on the brutality of Mexican prisons and the lack of human rights afforded to inmates. As Tim struggles to survive in jail, he is forced to navigate the criminal underworld, abusive prison guards, and corrupt officials. All the while, Tim tries to hold on to his hope that eventually, he will be freed and reunited with his family.

The episode also shows the impact of Tim's arrest on his family and friends back in California. The viewer sees how his loved ones struggle to come to terms with Tim's mistake and the emotional toll it takes on them. Tim's mother, in particular, is shown as a strong and determined woman who advocates for her son and fights for his release. Her efforts, along with those of a California-based advocacy group, are what ultimately lead to Tim's eventual release from prison.

Overall, "Mexico" is a gripping episode of Locked Up Abroad that shows the dangerous and often tragic consequences of making poor choices. The viewer is left with a sense of gratitude for their freedom and a newfound appreciation for the sacrifices made by people who fight for human rights around the world.