My book review appeared in last weekend’s Australian newspaper: El Jefe: The Stalking of Chapo Guzman By Alan Feuer Simon and Schuster, 256pp, $32.99 On the day in February 2019 that the world’s most notorious drug cartel boss, Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, was found guilty in a Brooklyn courtroom, the prosecution was ecstatic. Richard P.…
Showing all posts tagged war on drugs
Sydney Writer’s Festival interview on Pills, Powder and Smoke
This year’s Sydney Writer’s Festival was cancelled due to Covid-19 so it’s now gone online. I’ve been interviewed about my recent book, Pills, Powder and Smoke: Inside the Bloody War on Drugs, by criminologist Dr George (Kev) Dertadian. My other writer’s festival event this year is a conversation about the rise of far-right fascism.
The dark underbelly of Newcastle, Britain
In my recent book, Pills, Powder and Smoke: Inside the Bloody War on Drugs, I spend time across the UK, including the city of Newcastle, documenting the often brutal ways that the state mishandles drug users and addiction. The UK Sun newspaper commissioned me recently to write about my experiences in Newcastle. It’s not a…
UK Times Radio interview on “ethical cocaine” etc
Every now and then, a politician desperate for attention announces a policy to be tough on drug users. The latest person is the Conservative candidate for London mayor, Shaun Bailey, who wants companies to drug test their employees. It won’t work. In light of my recent book, Pills, Powder and Smoke: Inside the Bloody War…
The future of cocaine is being written now
Cocaine is a hugely popular drug that causes global carnage. It should be legalised and regulated. I investigate these issues in the current edition of UK magazine Gentleman’s Journal:
LSE tackles Pills, Power and Smoke
Happy to see another (relatively positive) book review of my latest book, Pills, Powder and Smoke: Inside the Bloody War on Drugs, just published in the London School of Economics by Alessandro Ford. The book was released in the UK in late 2019 so it’s pleasing to see it still being discussed (after all, the…
Synthetic drugs are here and surging
Synthetic drugs are here and the future of drug taking and trafficking. I’m quoted in this UK Telegraph story today about a massive shipment of amphetamine drug Captagon that was discovered in Italy: Watch_ Italian police seize 14 tonnes of ‘jihad drug’ pills worth €1 billion after they were shipped from Syria Here’s my full…
The drug war = class war
My interview in UK newspaper Morning Star about my drug war book, Pills, Powder and Smoke: Inside the Bloody War on Drugs. The interview was conducted by writer Miles Ellingham: Independent, investigative journalist and author, Antony Loewenstein has been a maverick player on the left-field of journalism for almost 15 years, reporting on the Israel-Palestine…
War on drugs will continue long after Covid-19 is done
What’s happening to the drug war during Covid-19 and where will it lead once it’s over? My essay/analysis for British outlet Unherd: The image was startling in its brazenness and simplicity. The convicted Mexican drug cartel head Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán is in a maximum security prison in the US, but his daughter, Alejandrina Guzmán,…
The world is in lockdown but Guinea-Bissau remains global drug hub
My recently released book, Pills, Powder and Smoke: Inside the Bloody War on Drugs, investigates the reality of the West African country of Guinea-Bissau and its central role as a cocaine transit hub. I further reported on the issue for Vice in late 2019. Now, in a new report in the Portuguese newspaper Publico, that…