Ep 6. Snitch Cities

In the fifth season of the riveting documentary series, Drugs, Inc., viewers are brought face to face with the chilling reality of the drug trade through six brand new episodes. Each episode examines the harrowing, true stories of communities, dealers, and law enforcement officials as they battle the dangerous and often deadly world of drug trafficking.

In episode six, titled "Snitch Cities," the focus is on the critical role that informants and whistleblowers play in bringing down some of America's most notorious drug empires. The episode takes us on a journey through two very different cities - Philadelphia and Inglewood, California - both of which have seen a rise in the number of active informants in recent years.

Viewers are first introduced to the gritty streets of Philadelphia, where Detective John Komorowski has been working as an undercover narcotics officer for over two decades. Komorowski explains that in his experience, the vast majority of drug investigations rely heavily on information garnered from informants, whose knowledge of the criminal underworld can provide law enforcement with the critical evidence they need to build a strong case.

We then meet Linda, a former addict turned informant who has been working with the police to bring down drug dealers for the past year. Linda explains that she was motivated to become an informant after seeing the devastating impact that drugs were having on her community, and after her own son became involved in selling drugs.

Through Linda's eyes, viewers are shown the dangerous world of drug dealing, where life is cheap and violence is an everyday occurrence. We see Linda secretly recording conversations with drug dealers, risking her life to obtain incriminating evidence that will help the police make arrests. We also see the toll that this work has taken on her, as she struggles to maintain a balance between her life as a mother and her life as a confidential informant.

Next, the episode moves across the country to Inglewood, California, where we meet Lil' Eazy-E, son of the late rapper Eazy-E and a well-known gang leader in the city. Lil' Eazy-E talks candidly about the pressure he faces from law enforcement, who are constantly trying to turn members of his gang into informants.

We also meet El Gordo, a drug kingpin who has been able to evade the police for years by using a network of spies and informants to keep them at bay. El Gordo boasts about the power he holds over his informants, who he refers to as his "little birds". He explains that he is able to maintain such a tight grip over them because he knows their secrets, and because they fear the consequences of crossing him.

Throughout the episode, the filmmakers show how the use of informants can be both an effective tool for law enforcement, and a double-edged sword that can put the lives of those involved in danger. The risks are high, but the potential rewards - taking down major drug cartels and saving countless lives - are even higher.

Overall, "Snitch Cities" is an eye-opening look into the world of confidential informants, and a stark reminder of the daily dangers that law enforcement officials face as they work to keep our communities safe from the devastating effects of drugs. It's a must-watch for anyone interested in true crime, or for those who want to gain a deeper understanding of the complex and often deadly world of the drug trade.