You nailed it. The price is higher for Westerners, but, well, look what's happening to this young lady.
The price is certainly higher for Westerners, but it is still generally affordable for most middle class families, it's not more than a good lawyer is going to cost. The brother of a friend of mine was caught in Costa Rica with a bunch of drugs about ten years ago, it cost his parents around $25K to get him out.