Becoming a drug dealer is actually a really easy job to get
into. You could start selling drugs to the kids down your road or
even around school, but you don’t even need to do it for money. You
could just pass a joint over to your mates or even buy a couple of
pills on their behalf, and that’s it - you’re a drug
dealer!
The life and money might look good, but unfortunately the career
prospects aren’t. Even passing a joint to your mate can carry the
same penalties as doing it for money.
Someone who did want to become a dealer has told his story
below.
How did your ‘drug career’ start?
I started off selling pills in clubs. I would buy 10 pills for
about £80, and sell them for £20 per pill. This made me loads of
money and I was able to have a pill and also double my money. I
then went onto selling speed and cocaine, which lead to crack
cocaine and then heroin.
I was a normal street dealer at this point but soon wanted to
get more money so I moved up the chain. I used to start buying
drugs in bulk. I remember once going up to Birmingham and buying
1kg of crack and 2kg of heroin which cost serious money. I remember
driving back thinking that I was now one of the big players. I
started selling these drugs to the street dealers and I was raking
in tons of money.
It wasn’t without its dangers though. I owned 2 guns but never
had to use them. If someone owed me money, all I would have to do
is go and see them and have my gun poking out from under my
t-shirt.
What happened when you owed people money?
I’ve been sent numerous death threats telling me to pay up or
else. I’ve been robbed and run over and also had my teeth knocked
out with a baseball bat.
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What happened when people owed you money?
I found that when I was dealing, you sort of see yourself as
high up, almost like a god. You are above everyone else so you
can’t be messed around.
I once worked with a complete psychopath called Jake. We were
both selling drugs but we were also badly addicted. A guy owed me
and Jake money so we decided to break down his door and get it
off him. Jake took an axe with him and things got a bit heated
in the flat. Jake swung the axe at the guys head and by a stroke of
luck the head of the axe fell off while he was swinging, so he only
ended up hitting him with the wooden handle.
Another time me and 3 other guys went and got a prostitute to
knock on the door of someone who owed us money while we hid round
the corner. When he answered we barged in and tied the guy to a
chair. We basically terrorised him; we took an empty gun out and
put it to his head and pulled the trigger. We also smashed his
shins with a broom and cut his stereo wire and threatened to
electrocute him. This person only owed us £800.
What did you use to cut your drugs with?
I actually preferred not to cut the drugs for a few reasons.
Firstly, I would still be taking my drugs so I don’t want to take
any other stuff I put inside. I also don’t really want to start
putting stuff in that could hurt other people. I did sometimes cut
heroin with violin polish. It went the same colour as heroin and
weakened it so people were less likely to overdose.
What sort of money were you making?
I will give you an example; I once went into a BMW showroom and
saw a really flash car I liked. I asked the guy how much it was and
he said £25,000. I asked him how much for cash and he said £21,000.
I went back 2 weeks later with a bag filled with £21,000 in
cash.
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Living the high life then?
Sure was. I even spent a month staying at the Hilton hotel in
Birmingham, throwing parties every night, eating in and
drinking loads in the bar. The high life soon ended though.
What happened?
I was driving along one night after just picking up a kilo of
heroin, and I noticed a car behind me. It looked like an unmarked
police car so I panicked and threw the heroin out the window. I
hoped that the police car would stop to collect the evidence and I
could get away. The car then over took me and I saw it was a family
inside. I immediately turned round and drove back to look for the
heroin. I found where I had thrown it and it had all become
scattered everywhere, so it was all unusable. I had just spent
thousands on this, so I had literally chucked thousands of pounds
out the window.
It sounded like you had a good time while it lasted?
Not at all, I mean the money was alright and the drugs were
good, but everything else that went with it was horrible.
So what advice would you give to someone thinking of taking
drugs
It is such a downward slope. The drugs may be quite fun to start
with but it doesn’t last. The health problems you get and the type
of people you meet aren't fun, and it isn’t glamorous.
Everyone who is now an addict, including the homeless heroin
addicts on the street, never intended to get addicted.
Where did you end up?
I ended up homeless and on the streets of Brighton. I was
begging to get by and was still using heavily. I eventually managed
to get help and put that life behind me.
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Did the police often get involved with you?
Yes, I have been arrested countless times, mostly for theft in
order to feed my habit but also 3 times for possession with intent
to supply. I have also been to prison a few times.
Did they raid your house?
I have had my house raided a few times in the different places
I've lived. It is a pretty scary experience. I used to reinforce my
door so it took a few blows to get in. When I heard the first smack
at the door I would freeze and think was it the police or was
someone trying to rob me? Then you would hear it banging again and
you would be frantically trying to get rid of the drugs.
Other times, when I lived in a flat that had a flimsy door, you
would just hear a huge crash as your door came in and you wouldn’t
have time to think!
What do you think of the police?
I’m actually really glad that they do their job, and do it so
well. I have seen what goes on and what could happen if the police
weren’t there. The thought of them being there has stopped me doing
worse things in the past. I have no ill feelings either - I
often see some of the police who used to arrest me and quite like
talking to them!
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