Drug Wars

Drug Wars

The terrifying inside story of Britain’s drug trade

Summary

Random House presents the audiobook edition of Drug Wars by Neil Woods and J S Rafaeli, read by Neil Woods.

TO KNOW THE TRUE STORY BEHIND A WAR, ASK THE PEOPLE WHO FOUGHT IT

An observation van is running surveillance on a high-level Bradford gangster. Suddenly the van is surrounded by men in balaclavas and tied shut. Out comes the can of petrol. It is set alight and the two cops inside barely escape with their lives. This incident is never reported. The gangsters clearly have informants inside the police and alerting the public would undermine the force. Everyone shrugs it off – with so much money in the drugs game, corruption is part and parcel of the whole deal

From the bestselling author of Good Cop Bad War, Neil Woods, comes the first inside history of Britain’s War on Drugs told by those who were there.

Calling upon the gripping first-hand accounts from those on both sides of the battle – the cops and the gangsters – as well as Neil Wood’s experiences as an undercover drugs detective, Drug Wars will build a complex, authentic and terrifying picture of the reality of the drug war in Britain.

Beginning with the Misuse of Drugs Act in 1971, we watch decades of violence, racial tension, organised crime and a monumental increase in addiction unfold. We see the birth of rave music and dance culture, and yet even more tabloid hysteria. And throughout, we look at the huge numbers of civilians that have fallen victim to Britain’s war on drugs.

Reviews

  • Anyone who cares about Britain should read this extraordinary and riveting book. It will change how you see our country - and lots of things that seemed strange will start to make sense.
    Johann Hari

About the authors

Neil Woods

Neil Woods spent fourteen years (1993-2007) infiltrating drug gangs as an undercover police officer – befriending and gaining the trust of some of the most violent, unpredictable criminals in Britain. With the insight that can only come from having fought on its front lines, Neil came to see the true futility of the War on Drugs – that it demonises those who need help, and only empowers the very worst elements in society. Neil is on the board of LEAP (Law Enforcement Action Partnership) in the US and is the Chair of LEAP in the UK. LEAP is an organisation made up exclusively of law enforcement professionals, past and present, who campaign for drug law reforms. He has also starred in Channel 4 Drugs Live.
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J S Rafaeli

J S Rafaeli is a writer and musician based in London. He is the author of 'Live at the Brixton Academy', and a frequent contributor to Vice
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