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EPISODE · Sep 24, 2025 · 35 MIN

How the UK’s drugs trade really works

from The Crime Agents

The UK is the biggest consumer of illegal drugs in Europe. From the British Pablo Escobar in the 1980s, to Albanian gangs taking over in the last decade, and a crack cocaine epidemic in between, Andy and Neil tell the story of how this shocking fact came to be a reality.They're also joined by Tony Saggers - the man who, until recently, was the head of Drugs Threat at the National Crime Agency. Tony reveals the key role that pineapples and bananas play in drug smuggling, how the industry has changed since Brexit, and gives his theory on why Brits are so partial to illegal substances.Later, Andy and Neil discuss whether characters like the notorious smuggler Howard Marks are responsible for glamourising the drugs trade - and debate whether it's still fair to describe cannabis as a 'gateway drug'. Follow us on social media: @thecrimeagents

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Sep 24, 2025

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How the UK’s drugs trade really works

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