Left: Dr Magana, one of the first (and wealthiest) dentists in Algodones. He was held for ransom and reportedly paid $3million for his release. Right: A Mexican couple look across the border fence separating Algodones from America. In the distance are the RVs owned by the Americans travelling into Mexico
However, the town continues to sprawl and pump with new economy. In recent months specialists have moved in to take advantage of the huge moneyed, numbers. There is now a dermatologist who gives cut-price botox treatments and a gynaecologist as well as various other high-tech medical labs.
All this is to the severe embarrassment of the FDA and multi-billion dollar drug companies who are constantly trying to find ways to halt the flow of ‘pill tourists’.