Undercover Drug Cop: Why We Need To Legalise ALL Drugs | Extraordinary Lives Podcast |  

Listen to the brand new Extraordinary Lives: Minutes With Podcasts from LADbible here - linktr.ee/minutes_with_undercover_cop Thanks to Neil for taking part! You can find out more about him here - neilwoods.net and follow him at Twitter @wudzee0 @UKLEAP

@LADbible TV - I actually met Neil, I was an addict in Mansfield in the noughties, when he infiltrated our crowd & without going into everything that happened (as there was so much) he became friends or rather what we thought was a drug acquaintance with myself & my (now ex) boyfriend, who had illegal ties to our local city Nottingham & the gang leaders there who were selling to us here in our town. There was a police Op that year & Neil set my boyfriend up by getting him to introduce him to his man over in Notts. It's such a long story but my boyfriend ended up getting 5yrs for 'possession with intent to supply'. He was released after 3 years & thankfully by then I had turned my life around, but unfortunately my ex did not. Sadly he passed in 2021, just three weeks after his 40th birthday. He had too many demons & not enough love & support to make the changes he desperately needed. Neil wrote about my ex in one of his books, he says he felt pretty guilty for setting him up because he was such a lovely lad who really wasn't hurting anyone with malice, he had come from the most awful circumstances as a child & then started dealing to support his own habit once he was using. His mother was dying at the time & so sadly within weeks of him being locked up she passed away. He had to go to the funeral in handcuffs. My ex had said to Neil during one interaction "I don't really have anyone, you're my only real mate right now" which is heartbreaking if you think about it & Neil talks about that in his book too. I really enjoy listening to Neil here, not just because I interacted with him once upon a time, but because I know now looking back that he entered a highly scary & dangerous world, that with much hard work turned into him doing a lot of good for communities across the country. Yes, obviously there were casualties, but over all his help in taking down the Notts gang (at that time) was undoubtedly a good thing for me personally in my own life for many different reasons & I know a lot of others too in my town were released from much pressure as well. Edit- I'm glad to see you doing so well Neil! What an incredible & fancinating life you've led indeed ✌🏽💫

I've been a heroin addict and dealer in the past and this guy is spot on, legalising and making drugs cleaner is the way to go. Tax the legal drugs and the funds from that pays for addiction services etc so it does not have any effect on the public purse. People will always take drugs whether legal or not so I don't see anything but positives legalising them.

The fact they had him making buys undercover and putting him back in uniform to work regular shifts, is so insanely dangerous. The wrong person sees him and he's done. Crazy

30+ years as a criminal defense attorney, and I agree with every word he said.

Nice to hear someone speaking the truth for once. We cant even control drugs in maximum security prisons let alone on the streets.

Omg… When did LADbible switch lanes into producing these extremely high quality, autobiographical/biographical, interviews?! 😲… Please, never stop creating this kind of content!

I could listen to Neil for days on end. So charismatic and knowledgeable

This is such a great interview! What I find especially interestingis that he literally got to know his "target group" - the humans behind, the stories.. Not only seeing them as criminals. How his way made him grow as a person, and following from that the bigger picture - that the war on drugs creates more problems than it ever solves. From a small, naive police officer to a political activist.

Huge respect to this guy for being able to stay open minded and then actually admit to himself and everyone else that what he thought was wrong. Much respect.

I did not share Niels opinions at all before this video, but had considered the argument vaguely in the past. His stories, his eloquence and intelligence in speaking, and his very logical nature has made me reconsider my own opinions. In the off chance Neil read this comment, I’d want him to know that this interview has made a real impact on me, and it will change how I vote and advocate in my community. I’ve great respect for him for taking this interview.

It's a shame more police areht like this, thoughtful, articulate, relateble - much like politics, policework often attracts completely the wrong type of people.

My son once asked me why we don't stop the drug war. I told him the world economy couldn't take shutting it down. Too many people depend on the war on drugs. He is on the police force, and he told me recently that he now understood what I meant.

40:26 "The police never reduce the size of the market" - critical insight into the game theory here & I admire his clear call for the radical solution of reversing course on criminalization. Excellent interview!

Neil touched my heart when he explained how he began to truly SEE those addicts. His revelation of the majority of addicts experienced some form of intense trauma. I can personally confirm this truth. As a recovering addict, I too used drugs as a way to self medicate to keep making it through every day life. After a near fatal beating from my ex, my suicidal thoughts were overwhelming. That’s when my addiction reared its ugly head. Heroin numbed me enough to keep from self destructing, and relieved the chronic pain I suffered from due to the previously mentioned attack. In a way, heroin saved my life, and it also nearly destroyed it.

This channel is very underrated. Way better than what Vice is doing these days.

Was a 20 year detective and 5 years drug squad, now a psychologist. Seen the problem from all sides. I agree, all illegal drugs should be legalised etc .

Fascinating interview and very eye-opening. Neil Woods genuineness and almost understated nature made his story and insights extremely powerful and effective. The whole style of these interviews is absolutely top notch, absorbing, educating and brilliantly focused and in the main so much better than the efforts of the main stream channels who, let's face it, have their own corruption issues!

As usual, LADbible gives us pure gold. Thank you for these. Please never stop doing them.

I was a heroin addict for 18 years. He is spot on. I was a very abused and neglected child. I had so much trauma . Drugs felt like my saviour. They took the pain away for a little while

This is a fantastic interview. Legalise & treat it like a health problem instead of a criminal one….”when I grow up I want to be an addict” said no one!

I was in the gang and drug unit in Chicago for 14 years and every time we stopped a group it was the gain for another group. You stop one another one takes that area. It never will stop period.

I was reading an article just the other day about methods of bringing hard drugs into Europe and the police being quoted as saying they are interdicting max 10-15% of drugs imported-sometimes as low as 1%. That means 99% of the stuff is getting through on a monthly basis. Just legalize it all and see how it goes for 10 years. You have NOTHING to lose, as you're losing the war ANYWAYS with those numbers.

Such an impactful interview. I am Canadian 🇨🇦 Almost 5 years ago (Nov 30) my son died from drug poisoning (that's what we call it here). The province I live in had safe consumption sites... until the conservative government took over. Now I think there is only one open in the whole province. Deaths are out of control. My province is #3 in Canada for deaths by overdose. It's so very sad. My question is... how do you talk to people and get them to listen, to educate themselves, to help them see there is another way? This "war on drugs" has only increased the drugs and increased the deaths. People directly affected by this issue understand but others just simply close their ears.

First a hearty THANK YOU to Neil Woods and all who created this amazing episode. Was a stunning look at this from an undercover cops point of view. I've known of paying off "dirty cops" but Neil shocked me by saying cartels pay people from an entry level point because I'd never heard of that nor thought of it; bloody brilliant and damned scary! Most absolutely shocking and gut wrenching sad was learning all that effort and tax money to create a mere *2 Hour Pause;* that will hang on my heart for a long time.

He's speaking pure facts, great interview

Neil Woods is a legend. His insights are invaluable and we must learn from them - in particular, we must understand that 1) drug addiction is a public health issue and must be treated as such and 2) for as long as commodities such as drugs are illegal, yet highly profitable, people will try to profit from them. Not only will people try to profit from them outside of law enforcement, but the sheer profit involved means that dreaming of a society in which any institution can avoid being corrupted by illegal trades is only ever going to be that: a dream. Kudos to LADbible for bringing this man's work to the public's attention. Nothing will change until people are educated about these matters, and we will not become educated unless we listen to the people who were in the thick of it (at every level).

Thank you so much for this, Neil. I work as a drug counsellor and every day I deal with the misconception that addicts are weak, despicable, and undeserving of help. Nothing could be further from the truth. Many addicts are victims of circumstance, survivors of horrific events and unimaginable levels of abuse. Their addictions are a coping mechanism without which many would not have survived even as long as they have. This doesn't mean they're weak; it means that they're damaged and hurting and desperately in need of help. When we stigmatise them, we're adding shame to the burdens they're already being crushed by. The more we shame them, the less likely they are to seek help and treatment. And even when they do, the system that we currently have in place is flawed and broken. Recent cuts to the NHS have decimated our mental health care. (Which includes drug treatment services). The help we are able to offer is insufficient, and oftentimes ineffective. Ideally, a client should receive therapy as well as a prescription. One will not work without the other. Therapy will help to support the client as the numbness of the drugs recedes and the initial pain that led to drug use returns. However in many parts of the country there are long waiting lists for therapy, and even when it is available the longest 'courses' allowed per person are once a week for 3 months. That's 12 sessions. In many cases that's can be more damaging than offering nothing at all, because if it reopens the wounds and then the client is discharged, they are worse off than they were to begin. We need more more people like you speaking out in an informed and unbiased manner, so that subjects like drugs and mental health stop being taboo, or nothing will change, and we really, really need changes. Changes to the way we look at the drug issue and changes to the way we think of those it affects. Changes to the system that is responsible for treating them and changes to the treatment we offer. I am so very grateful to you, Neil, both for the work you did undercover, and for the good you did telling your story. Hero has become a bit of a buzzword lately, but you, sir? You really are a hero. Thank you so very, very much.

Many thanks to both men; to Neil Woods for his insight and LaDbible for interviewing and airing this discussion.

These videos are absolutely fascinating and this guy in particular is really interesting to listen to especially given how he's come out the other side of this whole thing realising the complete futility of this approach. Really important stuff.

As a former US federal law enforcement agent, I can relate and agree 100% with most of everything he said in this interview. Myself, a lot of other agents, and law enforcement from across the country that I worked with feel this way about legalizing drugs. Taking away the money and power of cartels, ending turf wars and other drug related violence, and addressing addiction through regulation/treatment/rehabilitation are the ONLY ways this issue ends. Problem is, that wasn't addressed during the interview..... there is too much money involved on the law enforcement side of this for legalization to happen. Law enforcement agencies/departments receive massive amounts of funding from the government specifically for drug interdiction that would no longer come. The argument from law enforcement will be "these agents/officers that specifically work narcotics units would be out out of a job, and our department couldn't operate without these funds". I've heard it before, several times, from law enforcementat every level. Instead of realizing that even with legalization/regulation there will still have to be investigations and enforcement of the new laws. It will take the citizens making their voices heard REPEATEDLY AND LOUDLY for the elected officials (that literally serve at the citizens will) to make any sort of changes in this policy. I truly hope to see it in my lifetime, and at the very least.....my son's.

I've been saying this for so long. LEGALIZE, REGULATE, IMPROVE QUALITY, TAX. No more drug crime, no more pushers, no more wasting police resources. People will use drugs, you will NEVER win that battle.

As a retired (medically) Police Officer myself I totally see where you are coming from regarding legalising drugs. Unfortunately due to an injury on duty I am in constant pain and rely on cannabis to ease this. Although I am on high dosage opiate based pain meds (and have been for over 20yrs), these have done nothing for me other than give me brain damage. The real downfall is having to pay to ease my pain

Watching this was the best time spent on RU-vid for ages. Congrats and thanks for the "lesson learned".

I'm so glad to see Woods and LEAP still working and spreading the message of evidence based policing of narcotics. Well done LAD BIBLE. Gold as usual.

You can’t have alcohol being legal and drugs not. It’s a massive contradiction of principles based on the fact the government make so much tax on alcohol and not drugs

Neil: "This is how the world is and what needs to happen to improve it." Interviewer: "Tell me more about how you almost got caught."

I remember leaving uni because I had unaddressed PTSD and basically couldn't walk through the door. I went out for a drink to drown my sorrows and an old friend who I know has been involved in organised crime for as long as I can remember (he's about 10yrs older than me) asked how life was going. I told him basically I'm doing nothing, feeling at a loose end, I was feeling like crap because all my plans seemed like they became null and void overnight... he knew I was an academic, but also very street wise and an ex competitive thai boxer, so he basically gave me a blueprint for a career in crime, to make a name for myself and trade in status. I know I could easily have gone into it, I'd been on the fringes of that kind of thing numerous times and I had all the right friends, I was tempted... until he told me what I needed to do. The only argument I can come up with for not legalising drugs is that I've seen hundreds of people first hand, and know of thousands, who have no hope of being anything except a small time drug dealer. I'm not suggesting we let them carry on and that's that, I'm just saying that taking illicit drug dealing away leaves a lot of people with nowhere to go... bit like the mine closures in a twisted sense. We need to give these people another path to success accessible from the no hope areas of the city, hope for something they can clearly see as an alternative life, clout with their peers for something else, status based on something other than being violent and/or selling drugs. Drug laws may be making the floor lava, but you can't just whip the asbestos rug from under the feet of those who've built their house on it and not expect an inferno.

I'm glad the World is starting to understand the futility of this war on drugs. Here in NZ we came extremely close to decriminalizing cannabis but nays just won by a fraction

Respect to him mentioning about MDMA, I've literally had 3g sat on my computer desk for probably 3/4 years now. (some good quality stuff, you don't need much lol) Every once in a while I'll do some with a friend or two for a bit of fun with music, but that's it, just one night and I forget about it for months on end with it still sat there on my desk. It's not addictive, and harmless every once in a while, shouldn't be a crime to possess.

Just like the killing of sadam, it only creates a power vacuum that results in harsher crimes being commited during the power struggle

Makes sense. Things need to be legal but regulated. The war on drugs is failed.

Great to have Neil on!!

Im in America and I’m surprised a lot of people still don’t know that thc edibles are legal in every state already. Congress redefined the amount of thc allowed in edibles to be based off the total weight of the product and not the total thc content. I get edibles with 200mg of total thc and it’s legal, even though I live in Texas. Just be careful what company you use since some don’t have lab tests so you don’t know what’s really in it. I use Recreational8 because they ship to my state and have a QR code on their packaging that link to lab tests showing it’s legal. It’s worth looking into if you don’t have dispensaries in your state yet

Fascinating conversation that must be had on a larger scale all the time most definitely in the news here in the usa. Thank you for making space for Neil's story.

I was a heroin addict and dealer for 17 years (been clean 3 years last week!) & I can say it was past trauma from my childhood that led me to heroin & as Uma told him, it kept me alive but was also killing me slowly. I stopped several times but tried committing suicide 3 times, the last was in prison 6 years ago. It wasn't until I received counselling & the penny finally dropped, that I decided to give it up, for good. I was making a £800 a day for many years but that was offset by a £3-400 a day drug habit, as well as gambling etc etc. It's true what this ex-officer says, drugs should be legalised. People would find it a lot easier to give up drugs if they were looked at like an addict, an addict that's hurting & doesn't know how to deal with the pain & never been offered help for it, rather than being looked at like a criminal (they may commit crime but when off of drugs, they're extremely kind, generous, intelligent people). To those addicts reading this, please, as hard as it is, ask for help & take it from someone that's been there, it's worth the effort, far more worth it than the effort you put in each day to make enough money to not be ill.

This has been the best interview/subject matter I’ve heard this year. Absolutely fascinating.

the only reason I ever got into seriously heavy stuff is because my prescriptions were yanked away from me due to the media-fueled opioid panic and all i could get was very heavy street equivalents. funny thing is people aren't dying from prescriptions, they're dying from the street substitutions for prescriptions. legalization needs to involve current prescription meds as well as street drugs.

How fascinating,what an articulate man, and so easy to listen to,and learn from. Thank you 🙂

Excellent interview. Good points on how the war on drugs has had enormous unintended consequences. Selling legalization to the politicians and the public will not be easy, to say the least. I am in agreement that classifying drugs as legal vs illegal regardless of their potential for harm is nuts. I live in British Columbia, Canada and we are still having people die daily from toxic drug supply. How about this: let out people doing time for possession and give those empty accommodations to the Sackler family. I don't know the best solution to this crisis, but I do know how we are going about it is not working.

I'd vote for this guy should become a politician

Lawmakers should listen to people like this more. Side note, this interviewer is very good. So many interviewers don't give their guests room to speak.

Absolutely love this guy. Has a heart + is very intelligent. Intelligent enough to leave his ‘morals’ at the door in order to deal with the actual problem. Very true when he said “prohibition means no control” - no control means bad news re drugs.

If we legalise them, how are we going to justify invading foreign countries such as afghanistan :(

Always appreciate a man who is bright, articulate with a heart. Neil I see your courage......thank you.

I've been on multiple sleep and anxiety medication for the past 5+ years. My country started prescribing cannabis for mental illnesses and I've been able to stop almost all of my medications. I'd much rather ingest a natural plant than a pill made in a factory.

This man is so smart. I agree with everything he said.

Didn't David Cameron order a full review of drug use from the UK's leading expert, then dismiss it because he didn't give a review that fit the traditional view of drug policy...

I can not believe this does not have more likes most sense an facts I’ve heard in a long time top class interview

This needs to be seen by more people... (politicians) Prohibition being lawless is just so poignant.

I’ve never dealt or used anything but weed but, I do know almost all my local dealers(all substances)and a few addicts and they all have one thing in common, they feel unwelcome within society which makes it hard for them to make positive changes in their life. legalizing drugs is a great way to make them feel like a important part of society.

This should be a MANDATORY WATCH!

The most comprehensive and honest view of the multiple harms the war on drugs visits on each and every inhabitant of this planet I have ever seen

Neil is a great guy. We have to legalise all drugs urgently. We should legalise cannabis and literally give it away on the NHS and sell it within craft markets, similar to the craft beer boom. There's spaces for large corporate entities too, but an economy of craft growers is great for our communities.

Glad to see someone talking about the drug legalization argument! It doesn't get enough attention

I really like this sort of podcast style of interviews

I greatly respect Neil Woods' brave and important work to end this counter productive war.

great interview. it wouldnt be easy to create the laws and restrictions around drugs but i agree drugs should be legal to wipe out crime.

This drug cop, Neil Woods, is extremely well spoken, thoughtful, and a hero -- to speak about all his experiences directly and always be striving to do good in the world, even after so many profound experiences. The interview at first tries to get to the exciting stories, but about half way, it becomes truly reflective and profound, about the meaningful topic of the results of drug enforcement and the best solution to drugs & alcohol most experts believe we can reasonably implement: legalization, regulation, and harm reduction. This point of view is gaining traction and momentum. A whole book should be written on why it has taken so long.

Good interviewing, asking the right questions. It's the judiciary that's a big part of the problem, they don't generally live in the areas of antisocial drug behaviour, while the rest of us have to put up with it. Drug test every criminal and see how closely linked. The links with mental illness are also very clear and horrible to anyone with a rational mind.

The levels of stress after 32:59 . The way tics start flaring up through that story

UK drug prohibition policy is the gift which keeps on giving to criminal gangs;but as long as officials prioritise their moral righteousness over chaos in the street,nothing will change

Like all the wars on the poor, the war on drugs is not meant to be won but sustained. We need radical change and this is a key part of it.

What an insightful, informative interview, job well done on both parts. My heart goes out to those who try and do their job and go through hell to do it (Neil Woods, looking at you, we need more people like you in the world, who can get the change we need as a society), to have it undone by the corrupt element, at all levels, and across many industries. Doctors, Lawyers, Police and even Judges. No hope is there. so yes legalise the lot. You will never stop it, and more needs to be done on recovery. Check out the Fentanyl problem on the streets of Kensington, Philadelphia, USA, its jaw dropping that it continues day in, day out, year in and year out. No-one seems to care about rehabilitation for these poor souls, that are basically living zombies. So sad.

Excellent. Thankyou Mr Woody for saying what needs to be said, at the end of the story of your DS career. It's so true and the results of decriminalising and regulating drugs and spending more money on harm reduction , and education even, in Sweden and Portugal is very positive. As you said , crime and drug related deaths have decreased enormously and also, so far as Portugal goes (I don't know about Sweden but am sure it's the same), there are NOT more drug users than there were before all drugs became tolerated. The War on Drugs really needs to stop. Thanks for posting this interview. I only hope people in high places take notice and rethink their tactics. Soon.

This show is extremely informative to me. Thank for sharing.

As someone who studied criminal law and especially the connections of drugs the criminal activity that is dependent on them being illegal, not only speaking about the human toll it has in so many ways, the inability of politics to listen to people like him and those researchers extensively studying those problems and it’s possible solutions, is enraging…

This man should be invited by politicians and police institutions from all effected European countries to give seminars and lectures. He has very important first-hand information which he nearly paid for with his life.

More people need to see this. The research and real life experience speaks volumes about what needs to change.

Totally agree!!! For many many reasons. 👍

I've been a Heroin addict now for 30 years. I have a family, children, I worked all my life yet, have taken Heroin for.30years and crack for 10years. This doesn't impact my life in the slightest bit. The only parts that does is the trouble scoring, cost, stigma basically all the things that could be removed by legalizing it.

Love this dude. He’s absolutely right about international, moreover, our national drugs policies. His sacrifice for his cause is immense and deserves serious respect. I hope he can shift policy, even at a local level in a tiny way.

Thank you, Sir. It takes courage to switch sides. I've been on the other side of this debate for, literally, 60 years - publicly since 1965. I can't tell you how many cops & politicians have said privately what Neal Woods says here. My name is Joey Tranchina. I approve this man's honesty...jt

Woody… I listened in awe to your life story. Thank you for all you have done and continue to do. PTSD… May your healing be gentle and full and be kind to yourself ❤👏🙏👍

You can't just decriminalize drugs. You have to legalize it across the board, cutting out organized crime. Legalizing drugs allows quality control. Regulating the quality makes it safer. You can also tax it, like alcohol/tobacco and you have more money for rehabilitation. The main advantage of legalization is you get rid of corruption.

What was missing about the benefit of legalized drugs is that they would be much cleaner and healthier because the cutting agents used by sellers and re-sellers and those who re-sell the re-sold product are sometimes really unhealthy,

His book is fantastic.

"im Naloxone trained..." Me too! The course was intense, I read that poster twice ...

Something about him is gentle and i can imagine he naturally lets your guard down, nothing about him is threatening yet he's very masculine. I think that may have helped him keep his cover.

Mindblowing guys... And so true! Thanks for this awesome interview LADbible Greetings from Belgium.

Very interesting, very valid arguments there.

This is the most sensible policeman I have ever heard thank you lad bible for bringing him on

hes right about many things, but overuse of mdma does have real consequences and shouldnt be downplayed. the most prevalent ones being depression and memory problems.

Brilliant analysis and compassionate guy. Thank you!

Every addiction is rooted in the need to be loved.

Brilliant minded individual, thanks for sharing!

Loving these podcast.Very informative and eye opening

I am stunned and in complete awe! - Neil, if people are talking around about finding a real "cause" in their life and "fighting" for it, please just say silent. They have nothing on you. You are a true hero in the eyes of likeminded people already. You are going to be a hero for everyone as the years go by us. Hope it is not too late by then. I have nothing but utter respect for you sir. Thank you on behalf of all the people that you met, loved and cried for after meeting and connecting with them in dark alleys, where the rest of us do not dare too even look and only judge from afar. Best wishes for your life goals and for finding your inner peace, Nikolas @Ladbible - I always liked you folks, even from the very early years. After this I can only be thankful that you provided the correct platform for Neil to convey such a detrimental global problem to us. Cheers!

What us Libertarians have been saying for decades - End the "War on Drugs"! Too many people have suffered needlessly...

Another great interview. Keep it up team