Prison?

[johnwilliams77]

So said:

It didn't seem fair somehow.

Strange thing to say, it's not exactly a new thing: drug dealers going to jail.

[So]

johnwilliams77 said:

So said:

It didn't seem fair somehow.

Strange thing to say, it's not exactly a new thing: drug dealers going to jail.

That's why I added "somehow".

He was dealing in coke, smoke and pills at a mid-range level. He was a good businessman and a reliable sort of chap. He'd been under surveiillance for a while and he knew it. He had contacts within the police force that took him out of circulation, who told him it was likely to happen. But for whatever reason he barely changed his MO.

I think the long and short of it was that he quite enjoyed what he did.

To the best of my knowledge he is still in the same line of work, having been out of prison for a few years.

[Blue Oval84]

E24man said:

Is £5 a fortune for drugs? Is £3 a fortune for drugs?

These are the prices asked so how can your suggestion possibly stand any scrutiny whatsoever?

You handily miss out all the points I've made about the ruination of peoples lives through addiction that leads them to an existance where the obtaining of the sum of just £5 is a fortune to them, and despite any and all the other problems with their lives, they will consider commiting any illegal deed to obtain just £5.

To try and make your argument, steer clear of any comparisons to alcohol and tobacco and concentrate purely on the issues concerning drug addiction.

I'm not denying that there must be examples of people's lives being ruined by addiction to illegal substances as well as the legal ones. I just personally believe that the approach in the UK to dealing with it is completely wrong, for example, the Swiss clinic approach (featured a long way down this story - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-sh/Heroin ) seems like a good idea. If people don't need to think about where to get their hit from, or how to pay for it, then they can spend more time focusing on getting their st together.

Likewise, if the substances were just legalised and controlled I think the problem would be a lot less significant than it is. Prices would be lower (not that I know anything about heroin but a £5 hit must be absolutely bloody tiny!) and quality would be consistent. I can't see how the prohibition helps, I really can't.

Anyway, will leave it there as I don't want to derail what has been genuinely one of the most interesting threads on PH I've seen in ages!

[stneville]

Really enjoyed reading this

A couple of questions for TVR if you don't mind

1. Knowing what you know now what would you do different (apart from getting caught)?
2. What effect has prison had on you? Would you say its "rehibilitated" you or is it that bad you wouldn't want to go back?
3. Are you on the "straight and narrow" now or could you be tempted back into it by one of your ex colleagues?
5. You come across as an intelligent individual, you must have realised that there was a good chance of you going to prison. Did you think you weren't going to get caught or did you see going to prison as part of the career.

[MrJuice]

@TVR. Thank you for speaking candidly

Someone with your background clearly has lots of transferrable skills that could be used in a whole host of other areas, including other crime.

Why did you settle for the simple life of operating a fork lift truck? Surely you could do much better (financially, at least) by doing other legal work where you could use your transferrable skills. If you put your mind to crime again, the sky's the limit? I can see why you wouldn't do crime but can't see why you've chosen fork lift truck driving.

[johnwilliams77]

MrJuice said:

@TVR. Thank you for speaking candidly

Someone with your background clearly has lots of transferrable skills that could be used in a whole host of other areas, including other crime.

Why did you settle for the simple life of operating a fork lift truck? Surely you could do much better (financially, at least) by doing other legal work where you could use your transferrable skills. If you put your mind to crime again, the sky's the limit? I can see why you wouldn't do crime but can't see why you've chosen fork lift truck driving.

Did you miss the part about him having young daughter?

[fizz47]

Thanks for your upfront honesty TVR.... very refreshing, informative and sobering to see things from your side ..

Also have some questions if you don’t mind..


Earlier in your posts you alluded to your exit strategy for getting out of the business. ... can you give a broad idea of what you had in the back of your mind

Since you have been out has your circle of friends changed and are you in touch with any friends that didn’t know what line of business you were in..do they ever bring it up.

Do you think you can and will ‘transfer’ the business skills your learnt into some legal ‘normal’ business..

[hyphen]

TVRM - question for you. Why were Scissor Lifts chosen as the means of movement?

[Ayahuasca]

So said:

TheJimi said:

I don't believe that you are comparing apples with apples, E24.

I've yet to come across a recreational coke user who has plumbed anything like the depths you describe. Since TVRM has repeatedly pointed out that they sold to the party circuits, I think you are unfairly targeting him.

I've seen booze fk up far more people than coke or weed, by a country mile.

Powder coke users are not problematic, are they?

The end user is not the only victim of cocaine - what about the effect on the lives of peasant growers who are forced into criminality by the gangs, the small farmers whose legitimate crops are destroyed by chemicals used to target coca fields, the murderous gangs that grow up around the cocaine export business (like the wife and children of an Indian here in panama who were burned to death (staked out, petrol, lighter, woof) because they had found a package of coke washed up on the beach in front of their home), the innocent people caught in the crossfire, the corruption of police and judiciaries, the targeting of judges, the distortions of the economies of countries, even the cost to the average UK taxpayer of policing the trade, and the cost of anti-money laundering procedures that everybody has to bear...

Yes, if cocaine use were legal many of these effects would vanish, but it is not and they haven't and everyone involved in the chain does so in the full knowledge of these effects - and they couldn't care less because their income is so much more important.

[Exige77]

Maybe the “drugs are bad” brigade have made their point now and could continue the debate on another thread ?

[Ructions]

OK then as no one else seems to have the balls to ask the million dollar question, I'll do it. TVRM, how much can you get us a key for? Or if I'm having a bad week how much for a corner?

Seriously though I'd love to know the figures involved, especially now that we have someone who has been on the inside of a well run, professional organisation, who had contacts that could get serious amounts of the stuff.

[TheJimi]

Have you deliberately avoided my question, Ructions? (No worries if so, btw)

[TheJimi]

Ah right, I wasn't sure whether you'd saw my question. You can thank PH for no longer highlighting quoted posts. Well done PH devs

Anyway, was just curious to know what business you were in.

[Ayahuasca]

Maybe there should be an official PH criminality forum. You know, where people can discuss their crimes and swap tips.

[mickk]

Ayahuasca said:

Maybe there should be an official PH criminality forum. You know, where people can discuss their crimes and swap tips.

PrisonHeads?

[Ayahuasca]

mickk said:

Ayahuasca said:

Maybe there should be an official PH criminality forum. You know, where people can discuss their crimes and swap tips.

PrisonHeads?

Speed matters. So does Blow, Hash and Meth.

[MrJuice]

Meth is widely used. We see it in a+e patients (I am an a+e doctor) as often as other drugs

[jas xjr]

Ructions said:

Is Meth widely available other than on Breaking Bad, I've never actually heard of anyone taking it, but I don't mix in those circles. Doubt any Phers would be Meth users.

following a car accident , i waited in a police car with a police officcer for the recovery truck to arrive. i asked him the same question. his reply was that it was relatively difficult to make . compared with crack for example

[SpeckledJim]

MrJuice said:

Meth is widely used. We see it in a+e patients (I am an a+e doctor) as often as other drugs

arse+elbow?

[Ructions]

MrJuice said:

Meth is widely used. We see it in a+e patients (I am an a+e doctor) as often as other drugs

What other drugs, other than heroin, would you see in your patients. I wouldn't have a lot of experience were drugs are concerned, but was always intrigued as to what leads someone to become an addict.