The Jordan Harbinger Show

806: Neil Woods | Undercover in the UK's Most Vicious Drug Gangs

Mar 7, 2023
Neil Woods, a former undercover drug operative with 14 years of gritty experience, now advocates for drug policy reform. He shares gripping stories from the dangerous world of British drug gangs, emphasizing the moral dilemmas he faced while infiltrating these criminal networks. Woods discusses the inevitable corruption within police forces driven by performance pressure and critiques the ethical implications of undercover operations. He now champions evidence-based reforms, reflecting on the need for a more humane approach to addiction and drug policies.
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ANECDOTE

First Solo Call

  • Neil Woods' first solo domestic disturbance call involved a man chasing him around a sofa with a knife.
  • The man, whom Woods had previously arrested, slashed his own wrists before backup arrived.
INSIGHT

Drug Squad Attachment

  • Moral panic over crack cocaine in the UK led to increased funding and prioritization of drug enforcement.
  • This resulted in Neil Woods' early attachment to the drug squad after only four years in the police force.
ANECDOTE

First Undercover Buy

  • Woods' first undercover drug buy involved posing as a student, despite lacking a cover story.
  • The ease of the buy highlighted the naivety of the market at the time, before undercover tactics became common.
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