June 17, 2024 • 27 mins
Ever wondered what it's like to live life undercover, balancing danger and deception at every turn? Join me, Michael Bates, as I take you through my rollercoaster journey in the latest episode of Whisper in the Shadows. Imagine securing a room at Jodie's place, only to face the peculiar challenges of maintaining a cover, like navigating a tense market scene with your spouse. Experience a nail-biting moment when you're offered drugs and must decide between blowing your cover or simulating drug use. Each scenario sheds light on the complex balance and quick thinking required to stay one step ahead in the undercover world.
But that's not all. Picture yourself trying to infiltrate a small-town drug network, dealing with awkward locals, unruly teens, and a young weed dealer named Darren. Despite your mission to secure more profitable drugs, you find yourself negotiating a deal for a pound of weed. Finally, just when things start to stabilize, an abrupt call from the covert squad shatters your newfound routine, pulling you back into the unpredictable realm of covert operations. This episode encapsulates the essence of readiness, adaptability, and the sometimes absurd reality of undercover policing. Don't miss this gripping narrative that captures the life of an undercover cop in all its thrilling complexity.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello and welcome to my podcast Whisper in the
Shadows the true story of areal-life undercover cop.
I'm Michael Bates and I was apolice officer for 15 years in
one of the country's statepolice forces.
I was also an undercover copfor over two years, and all the
episodes of this podcast are mytrue stories of what it's really
like to be an undercover cop.
(00:22):
Rather, I was Michael Bates, sofull disclosure Michael is not
actually my real name.
It was my COVID identity I usedon most of my operations.
Everyone has a notion of whatundercover policing is all about
, whether you think they are anarc, a COVID operative, a dog
or an undercover cop.
(00:43):
Most people seem to confuseplainclothes police with being
undercover.
There is a very big difference,though.
Most plainclothes police don'twear a uniform, so they aren't
as obtrusive in public.
Being covert is completelydifferent, though.
You become immersed in theworld of your targets.
When you're a police officer,part of your role is to
(01:03):
investigate crimes.
This means you try and findevidence to prove the person you
have arrested has committedthat crime.
Now, this evidence can consistof physical, verbal, video and
witnesses.
When you're an undercoverpolice officer, though, you are
the evidence and you are thereason someone gets convicted of
the crimes.
That is both exciting anddangerous.
(01:24):
So why don't we get on with thenext episode?
Welcome back to the Whisper inthe Shadows podcast.
This is episode 20 and also thepenultimate episode of this
series.
In the last episode I had takenup residence at the Club Hotel
(01:47):
in a small country town, hopingto infiltrate a regional
criminal group that wasmanufacturing and selling speed
across the southern region ofthe state, including the capital
city.
I was introduced to myinformant, stephen, who was
skittish to say the least.
One of the barmaids, whosepartner was heavily involved in
the local organised criminalgroup, had offered me a room to
rent at her place.
I'd been at home and decidedI'd return to the town.
(02:10):
I rang my controller and toldher and she said she'd be back
up the following day.
I was not to do anything exceptsit at the pub, not even footy
training.
Reluctantly I agreed and Iheaded back up to the town.
When I got back I was just intime to grab some dinner and
have a drink or two.
I got a call from my controllerthat night and she said I could
(02:32):
move in with Jodie, but therewere going to be strict
conditions.
Feeling somewhat elated, Ifound Jodie at the bar and asked
her if the room was stillavailable.
It was, so I agreed to move inthat weekend.
Now, before I get to this, asmall background story which you
might find amusing.
Between my last operation andthis one, my then wife and I
(02:52):
decided we would go up the coastfor a week to a family unit
which was right on the beach.
Ironically, we were staying inthe unit when I had first met
her about six years prior.
It was a good week and veryrelaxing.
Now there used to be a communitymarket on a Sunday back then
and, given the hippie typecommunity it was, it had all of
the fun stalls selling thingslike bongs and other
paraphernalia.
(03:13):
So remember I was looking likea druggie shaved head, goaty
beard, without a moustache, butit was long, pierced nose etc.
My wife was very, very cleancut.
Anyway, we're at this markethaving a potter around as you do
.
We come across this storeselling said smoking
paraphernalia and I stopped tohave a little look, as one might
.
I find these two pipes whichwere actually quite ingenious.
(03:36):
One was a self-loading pipe andone had a fine five cone
rotating cylinder.
Now I thought they might be goodthings to have lying around the
car and or a human on my nextjob.
So I show them to my wife.
Yep, no issues my money if Iwant to spend it on that, et
cetera, et cetera.
So I buy them, I hand over themoney, they put it into a
(03:58):
nondescript bag and the changeis given back because cash was
king back then.
As I'm taking my change, thewife pipes up, and not in a
quiet way you need to get areceipt so you can write them
off in tax.
I just look at her with a whatthe fuck look on my face.
I turn back to the stall ownerand smile and say don't worry
about it.
(04:18):
My wife pipes up again no, youcan write it off on tax.
I gently lead her away from thestall and have a discussion
about how most drug dealersdon't do taxes, let alone write
off.
Smoking implements.
Her argument yes, but I was anundercover policeman, which she
said a little too loudly.
Needless to say, we didn't stayat the markets too much longer.
(04:39):
Nice story.
But why is this important?
I hear you ask.
Good question.
It would have been about threedays after I'd moved into
Jodie's place when her boyfriendDave came around.
It was mid-afternoon, probablyabout 3pm-ish.
Jodie wasn't working that day,so we were just sitting around
chit-chatting.
David came in enjoying theconversation and it seemed like
(05:01):
everything was cool.
After about an hour and a halfhe turns to me and, pulling an
alf-oil package out of hispocket, says feel like a smoke?
Okay, so here was a conundrum.
As an undercover police officer, should I be smoking drugs?
If I said no, would that throwsuspicion on me?
If I said yes, could I get awaywith simulating smoking it?
(05:22):
Now, simulating is when youpretend to smoke by not inhaling
it into your lungs and justkeeping most of it in your mouth
.
Pretty easy to spot if you weredoing it all the time and
sitting close to someone.
Now I had these two pipes whichhad to be broken in as well.
Okay, that isn't a reason initself to smoke, but it was a
good conversation starter.
(05:42):
I went with the.
I am genuinely concerned thatthis is a test and therefore
need to go ahead.
So Dave and I venture out ontothe balcony of the house, we sit
down and he opens the alfalfapackage and there is a fair
amount of green leafy materialin it and you could just smell
it.
Jodie brought out a bowl andsome scissors.
Be careful with this stuff, itis very potent she said to me
(06:06):
yeah, all good.
I replied, whilst secretlyhaving a conniption.
So we decided to use therotating cone pipe.
Dave cut it up and packed thefive cones and started the first
one.
I think it took me about threeinhales before it started to hit
me.
By the end of the second cone Iwas literally having an
(06:32):
out-of-body experience.
It went something like thisDave would say something to me
like ask a question or just makea comment.
I was hearing myself say Daveis talking.
Okay, Dave has finished.
It's your turn to respond.
You need to say this Starttalking now.
Okay, stop talking.
Look at him and listen to whathe has to say.
Take a puff, hand it back.
(06:52):
Your turn to talk.
Start talking now.
Okay, stop talking.
It was a very bizarreexperience and I remember it
like it was yesterday, and it isvery, very so.
Drugs are bad.
Okay.
Luckily, I didn't say anythingstupid or give anything away as
to my true identity and why Iwas there and got through it
(07:15):
without an issue Well, exceptfor being bloody hungry.
A few hours later, the next day,I met up with my controller
outside of town and went throughthat whole story, it was
decided that I needed to get aplace of my own, as that was
(07:35):
going to become a bit of anissue and possibly a security
risk.
Luckily, there was a block offour units at the top of town
and three of them had becomevacant.
It was like a strip of them allground floor level one bedroom,
one bathroom types.
There was a vacant block to thesouth in the railway line, and
then, across the main road, wasthe top of the town business
district.
Down to the next corner was theclub hotel.
All in all, a five minute walk.
The other good thing mycontroller already had a new,
(07:57):
already had a unit there, and Iended up getting a unit right
next door to each other, whichmeant that accidentally talking
to each other shouldn't raiseany issues or concerns in the
community.
I moved in about three weeksafter her and it was perfect
cover.
I was able to duck in the backdoor of her place and no one
would be any the wiser.
I also had a fair few dinnersin her place too, which was good
(08:19):
.
So because there was no carportattached to this unit block, we
basically had to park our carsout the front of the unit.
Now, remember I said I'd beengiven a Toyota Lexus, which was
basically the Holden Camaro witha Toyota badge on it.
Everyone in town knew it was mycar.
It kind of stood out as it wasmaroon that I drove it
(08:40):
everywhere to footy training, tothe supermarket, to shop,
sometimes to the pub, but neverif I was drinking, didn't make
matters any easier to not knowit was mine.
Now, the football competition wewere in was regional, which
meant we had to drive to otherregional towns for games, the
furthest being about athree-hour drive.
So it happened that I was oneof the few players that actually
(09:02):
had a license and I drove fiveof us out to the game and back.
One day we lost, which wasstandard.
But the point of the story isthe following Friday night I out
and one of the teammates made acomment that kind of shook me.
He said something about goingfor a ride the previous weekend
in a police car.
When I looked at himquizzically he responded yeah,
(09:23):
your car.
I thought it was a police car,mate.
It's a Toyota, for fuck's sake,as if the police would drive
one of those and a car as crapas mine.
I replied Just saying what itlooks like he said.
Now that threw me.
Not only was I not getting anyintroductions, I was starting to
be questioned as to why I wasin town and all sorts of rumours
(09:44):
were being spread.
Apparently, to date, I hadinformation that one of the most
recognisable guys in town wasselling speed locally.
To date, I had information thatone of the most recognisable
guys in town was selling Speedlocally.
His name was Snake and he wasnamed thus because he had a very
noticeable tattoo.
Yep, you guessed it.
It was a snake that woundaround his neck, with its heads
coming out under his chin.
It was a very conspicuoustattoo, if you ask me.
(10:07):
No one is going to rememberthat.
Now.
I tried getting into his group,but he too was suspicious of me
telling someone he didn't trustme.
No one is going to rememberthat.
Now.
I tried getting into his group,but he too was suspicious of me
telling someone he didn't trustme.
Then there was the informationabout the licensee's son selling
speed across the coast.
He I did have an in with, butagain, I just couldn't get him
to sell to me.
There was another guy who wasliterally like the pied piper of
(10:28):
the town.
He was about early 30s and hehad all the teenagers falling at
his feet, like the 16 and 17year old girls.
One day we were at the pubplaying pool.
One of these 10 girls who was17 and he had this effect on her
Her mother was a barmaid whoworked at the hotel, so the girl
was always in the public bar.
Now she was a very good poolplayer.
(10:50):
This day we were playing pooland he walked in.
She went and swooned all overhim and another few friends came
in, including one of the boys Iplayed footy with.
He would have been about 19 or20.
So here I am with a whole bunchof literal teenagers playing
pool.
After about an hour of pool,this girl suggested we all go to
her place to hang out.
(11:11):
I looked at her mum who noddedit was okay, but she also had a
word to keep an eye on herdaughter and not let her alone
with Mr Piper.
So we walk up to our house andthere was a lot of conversations
going on.
One I did pick up on was thisgirl asking our Piper if he
could get any speed.
My ears pricked up and Ilistened intently.
We get to the house and goinside.
(11:33):
We're all sitting around in thelounge room and I sit next to Mr
Piper and asked him if he gaveany speed to this girl.
I said if you have some, mate,I'd be interested in getting
some.
I have money, so no issues withwanting freebies like she does.
He looked at me with a smirk.
She doesn't get freebies.
Trust earns it.
Yeah right, I said I honestlydidn't want to know, but I
(11:56):
persisted.
Can you get me some?
He said look, I don't have anyon me, but I am expecting some
more this weekend.
I can probably get you somethen, right?
I said where are you getting itfrom?
Wrong question to ask what Areyou a cop?
Why do you care?
He replied.
(12:16):
Now I was thinking to myself.
These people are very jumpy fora bunch of country people.
There is more going on here.
Nah, mate, no reason.
I just have some friends on thecoast who are looking for some
more gear.
Maybe you could help me outbefore I go over this weekend.
So I was going to the coastthat weekend.
My favourite band, skunk Out,were playing on the coast and
myself and one of the other UCswho was doing a job there were
(12:40):
going to go.
If I needed to introducesomeone, he was the mate I would
use.
Yeah, not sure.
He said I'll see what I get andlet you know.
Yeah, mate, all sure.
He said I'll see what I get andlet you know.
Yeah, mate, all good.
I said Just let me know.
I decided it was time to get outof there, as it was all going
downhill very quickly.
The two teen girls had decidedthey would be giving a fashion
(13:03):
show and the clothes gotskimpier and more revealing.
One of them was wearing asee-through plastic dress.
I did not want to be there andhave that come up during any
court case, so I bailed.
I went back to the hotel andtold the marbae what was going
on.
She just shrugged and said okay, she says she gets in wet
knickers when she sees him, so Iguess she's showing off.
Thought to myself this is a 17year old daughter she's talking
(13:26):
about, and this is why countrykids don't finish high school
and never leave these towns.
They're all pregnant at 16 or17.
I bailed and walked back to myunit.
As I got there, a group of guyswere standing in the street.
You see, snake lived just downthe road in one of the houses
and he was letting some of thelocal lads crash there.
(13:46):
Mick one of them yelled out yes, mate, what's going on?
I said as I walked up to themNot much, snake's missus has
just kicked me out.
Don't suppose I can crash onyour couch, can I?
He asked.
Mate, I can't.
I'm off to the coast tomorrow,and not that I don't trust you,
but I don't want any parties oranything, and you tend to get
drunk and invite people to party.
(14:07):
I said.
He genuinely looked hurt, butit was not an option.
Any idea where I can get somespeed before I go over?
I asked I was starting to getdesperate for a target and it
was showing Nah, not really,maybe snake.
He said yeah, I tried that.
I said so I was 0 and 3 or 4.
(14:30):
So I was 0 and 3 or 4 or maybe5 anyway.
Steve had not been into townsince our discussion and I was
getting nowhere.
My controller was having herdoubts about this information
and his ability or desire tointro me to anyone.
So was I.
That Friday night I was out andabout again as I usually was.
Steve actually came into theclub hotel and was sitting at
(14:51):
the end of the bar.
He clocked me as I walked inand called me over.
Mick, how you going?
He asked.
Steve haven't seen you for awhile.
Are you good?
Yeah, I replied.
Yeah, I've been busy.
He replied yeah, I guess youhave been.
I said Just then I noticed ayoung fella sitting with him
listening to the conversation.
(15:13):
How are you, mate you alright?
Yeah, I said to him.
Do I know you?
He was about to speak whenStephen piped up.
Nah, you don't, mick.
This is Darren.
He's someone who I know, whohas an issue with getting rid of
some plants he has Now.
By plants, I assume Steve meantweed.
I'd come to this town expectingto get intro'd into a speed
(15:33):
syndicate and instead was beingintro'd to a 20 year old weed
dealer Mate, I said, as I shookhis hand.
Now to Steve, I said what do youmean?
Plants?
He has a couple of pounds ofweed he needs to unload.
Steve said there was noskittish like the last time.
Yeah, steve said you might beinterested in buying some, as
(15:55):
you have friends on the coastwho can move it.
Darren said Is that right?
Did Steve tell you that?
I said, looking around at Steve.
Yeah, I did, because it's true,isn't it?
Steve asked me.
I thought to myself True isn'tit?
Steve asked me.
I thought to myself I so wantto punch you in the head right
(16:17):
now.
I turned back to Darren Mate.
Sure, why not?
How much?
Oh, three grand for the pound.
Okay, so a little bit of weedeconomics here.
A pound of weed is 16 ounces.
An ounce is 28 grams.
Weed is usually sold by thequarter ounce, ie seven grams,
(16:37):
half ounce or an ounce bags.
A seven, which is a quarterounce, is about $100, a bag A
half ounce about $200, and anounce about $320.
So, worst case, you can sellthe weed by the ounce and you're
making about $2,000 on your$3,000 investment.
By the half ounce bag andyou're making about $3,000.
(17:00):
By quarter bags, you're makingabout $3,500.
Not a bad little earner,provided you didn't get caught
carrying the bags and you couldfind a market to sell it.
Speed, ecstasy and coke weretaking the markets by storm and
were much cheaper drugs andeasier to hide and sell.
That said, I had a financialincentive to buy the weed, so I
could try and haggle on that.
(17:21):
I decided against it and agreedto the price.
Darren gave me his address andI agreed to go out to his place
the following week to pick upthe wheat Deal done.
Now I had been buying powdersand had no idea how much a pound
of wheat was going to besize-wise.
Obviously, I knew a pound wasgoing to be a pound, but that
(17:44):
was going to be next week'sproblem.
Later that night I bumped intoMr Pied Piper and again I hit
him up for that speed, but to noavail.
My other options were becomingless and less interested in
selling to me as well.
It seemed that the weed deal wasabout all this operation had
going for it.
Well that and I was gettingsome intel on what we believed
was the speed syndicate.
They were believed to own a pubin a little town further out
(18:07):
into the country.
It was also believed that theyhad a property not far from the
pub where they manufactured thespeed and it was then
distributed out of this pub.
I took a drive one day out thatway with Steve where he pointed
out the places he believes itwas being manufactured on this
property, etc.
The pub had a large number ofthe syndicate's particular means
of transport parked out thefront that day, so there was no
(18:29):
way I was going in for a drinkto suss it out.
I'd made some notes and passedthese on to my controller.
Anyway, back to the weed.
The next morning I caught upwith the controller and told her
about the proposed buy, toldher I would do it Tuesday during
the day and where the addresswas, etc.
I also told her about mestriking out with the speed
(18:50):
angles Whilst I was over at thecoast enjoying myself.
She would organise the cash forthe wee buy and also do a recce
on the property I would begoing to.
After a very big weekend I justmanaged to make it back to my
unit on the Sunday night.
The next morning my controllerand I had a chat and she gave me
her thoughts on my buy.
She didn't see any issues.
She had identified Darren andhad a good idea of who he was.
(19:12):
So it was decided I would goand do the buy.
I spent most of Mondayrecovering and didn't venture
too far from my bed, to behonest.
The next morning I woke upfeeling much better, caught up
with my controller, got themoney and then organised to meet
Darren at his place about 11am.
It was going to be about a 15to20 minute drive out of town to
his place.
(19:33):
It wasn't a farm or anythingmore like a larger out of town
block.
The driveway was right off thehighway and I turned in and
drove down.
Now I decided to record this bywith a recording device, so I
was a little bit nervous, as Ialways was when I was wearing a
recording device.
There was no real history forDarren, definitely no violence
(19:55):
history, but it was just one ofthose normal butterfly feeling
type feelings I had going into anew buy.
I pull up outside this low setbrick house that had a garage.
Separate to the house.
There was a couple of carbodies that looked like someone
was trying to fix up sittingaround the house.
It looked very, very SouthAmerican, south America, deep
(20:17):
South.
You know what I mean.
As I pull up, darren sticks hishead out of the door, obviously
making sure who it was.
He comes out to the cardriver's side Mick, good to see
you.
He says as I'm getting out.
Yeah, mate, you too Nice andsecluded out here.
I said to him yeah, it is,which is good.
I then said so, do you have theweed?
Yep, do you have the money?
(20:37):
He asked me.
So, do you have the weed?
Yep, do you have the money?
He asked me.
It was now a game of Russianroulette.
Who was going to show?
First?
I do, mate, go and get the weedand you can have the money, I
said.
He looked at me and then heturned and walked into the house
.
I won.
Now I was a little bit worriedthat he could go inside get a
(20:57):
weapon and that would be me, butI also knew he didn't have a
history of doing that.
He came back out with a garbagebag that was full.
Now I don't know what I wasexpecting.
An ounce of heroin was onlysmall.
A pound would be maybe the sizeof a softball, but this was
huge.
It's like when you take outyour old clothes and put them in
(21:18):
a garbage bag to take them tothe vinnies bin.
It was that big.
I opened the boot of the carand he proceeded to put it in.
Now I couldn't say, gee, Iwasn't expecting that, as I was
supposed to be a dealer.
But I was slightly taken abackas I handed over the money.
I said I'll take this over tothe coach this week and see how
it sells.
(21:38):
If I get good feedback, then,mate, this will be a regular
thing.
Yeah, sounds good, mick, hesaid, and with that I got in the
car and drove back to my safehouse.
When I got there, I take thebag out of the car, went into my
unit front door, out my backdoor and then into my
(21:59):
controller's unit in one go.
We weighed it, we photographedit and we bagged and tagged it.
That night I did my notes andwe finally had a buy and we were
on our way.
About a week later I was outhaving breakfast with a girl who
had gravitated into my circleof friends over the previous few
weeks.
She was a barrel rider and boycould she ride.
Anyway, we were having a latebreakfast when I got a phone
(22:22):
call.
I answered it, not actuallyknowing who it was.
Remember back then you had 10stored numbers without names and
there was no caller ID liketoday.
You had to remember who wasnumber one, who was number two,
who was number three.
Anyway, it turned out it was oneof the sergeants from the
covert squad.
He basically told me I had todrop what I was doing, go back
(22:43):
to my unit, pack it up, clean itup and be back in the office.
That afternoon I asked why andI was told you'll find out when
you get back here.
There was not much else I coulddo.
I made my excuses, dropped herhome and went back to my unit
and got to packing and minimalcleaning.
Let's be honest, I literallydisappeared into the night,
(23:03):
except it was day.
My controller had alreadypacked up her unit and was
waiting for me to take my keysback to the real estate.
I packed and cleaned as quicklyas I could.
It wasn't a real good job,though.
We drove out of town and I wasback in the office by about 4pm
that afternoon.
We drove out of town and I wasback in the office by about 4pm
that afternoon.
I had a quick debrief and mycar was changed out.
(23:23):
I was told that the close downwould be in three days time and
my controller wouldn't be going,but one of the covert sergeants
would be, and he was going todrive me up the day before the
raids.
We would be staying in a motelone night and I wasn't allowed
to go out the next morning.
We'd be there when they did theraids and then we would drive
straight back that afternoon.
(23:44):
That was all the information Igot.
Two days later, I was drivenback to the town.
We left after lunch and didn'ttake the usual direct route.
We went through a number ofback roads and properties to get
into town.
We even got chased by a bull aswe drove down some off the
track dirt road.
We went to the police stationand then straight to the hotel
(24:06):
or motel.
Rather, I wasn't given any realinformation.
I mean, we chatted and talkedbut when I asked about what had
happened it drew no comment.
The next morning I was up at4am.
We went off to the policestation and they were doing a
briefing on the raids.
I gave as much information as Icould on the targets they were
going to hit the licensees' sonDarren, mr Pied, piper Snake and
(24:30):
one or two of the other peopleI had identified as possibles,
plus some they had wantedthrough a reason to raid as well
.
By mid-morning the raids hadwound up and I had about six
people in custody with amultitude of charges.
That was it.
After lunch we drove back tothe city and I was done.
The job was closed abruptly.
I never found out what happened, but from the information I was
(24:53):
given, I think someone saidsomething and I was blown.
I must believe it was Stephendoing a backflip and trying to
cover his tracks.
But I never found out.
Nor will I ever.
As for Stephen, I have no ideawhat happened to him.
From that ignominious closure,I had about another two months
with the squad whilst I did myfinal paperwork and tidied up
(25:16):
all the bits and pieces.
I was able to go and do aninvestigator's course, which was
a two-week course.
I actually had to live in atthe academy to do the course,
which became a precursor toleaving my wife.
That's another story.
I grew my hair out, I shaved mybeard and I took my earring and
nose ring out.
I was back wearing a uniform,as if the last two and a bit
(25:38):
years had not happened, giventhe issues with certain previous
UCs demanding payouts from thegovernment.
I was given three sessions of apsychologist intervention to
make sure I could readapt tonormal policing life and then,
on a cold August Sunday morning,I was back on the beat being
shown the ropes by a youngfemale who had literally
(26:00):
finished her first year trainingtwo weeks prior.
As a welcome back to policing,the universe decided to make
sure that first shift was a shitshow, with a car accident, an
attempted suicide and a deadbody my first three jobs.
I lasted another nine years inuniform before I decided to pull
the pin.
(26:20):
I lasted another nine years inuniform before I decided to pull
the pin.
That, however, will all beexplained in the final episode
of the Whisper in the Shadowspodcast, the true story of a
real life undercover cop who isme, michael Bates.
I look forward to telling thefinal chapter of this story next
week.
Until then, goodbye.
Thank you for listening toWhisper in the Shadows, my true
(26:52):
stories of a real lifeundercover cop.
Until then, goodbye.
Lastly, if you're an ex-COVIDoperative or undercover police
officer, I would love to chat toyou about your experiences or,
if you're feeling dangerous,tell your stories on my podcast.
Please get in contact by myemail, which is
whisperintheshadowspodcast atgmailcom.
I look forward to you joiningme next time.
Hello and welcome to my podcast Whisper in the
Shadows the true story of areal-life undercover cop.
I'm Michael Bates and I was apolice officer for 15 years in
one of the country's statepolice forces.
I was also an undercover copfor over two years, and all the
episodes of this podcast are mytrue stories of what it's really
like to be an undercover cop.
(00:22):
Rather, I was Michael Bates, sofull disclosure Michael is not
actually my real name.
It was my COVID identity I usedon most of my operations.
Everyone has a notion of whatundercover policing is all about
, whether you think they are anarc, a COVID operative, a dog
or an undercover cop.
(00:43):
Most people seem to confuseplainclothes police with being
undercover.
There is a very big difference,though.
Most plainclothes police don'twear a uniform, so they aren't
as obtrusive in public.
Being covert is completelydifferent, though.
You become immersed in theworld of your targets.
When you're a police officer,part of your role is to
(01:03):
investigate crimes.
This means you try and findevidence to prove the person you
have arrested has committedthat crime.
Now, this evidence can consistof physical, verbal, video and
witnesses.
When you're an undercoverpolice officer, though, you are
the evidence and you are thereason someone gets convicted of
the crimes.
That is both exciting anddangerous.
(01:24):
So why don't we get on with thenext episode?
Welcome back to the Whisper inthe Shadows podcast.
This is episode 20 and also thepenultimate episode of this
series.
In the last episode I had takenup residence at the Club Hotel
(01:47):
in a small country town, hopingto infiltrate a regional
criminal group that wasmanufacturing and selling speed
across the southern region ofthe state, including the capital
city.
I was introduced to myinformant, stephen, who was
skittish to say the least.
One of the barmaids, whosepartner was heavily involved in
the local organised criminalgroup, had offered me a room to
rent at her place.
I'd been at home and decidedI'd return to the town.
(02:10):
I rang my controller and toldher and she said she'd be back
up the following day.
I was not to do anything exceptsit at the pub, not even footy
training.
Reluctantly I agreed and Iheaded back up to the town.
When I got back I was just intime to grab some dinner and
have a drink or two.
I got a call from my controllerthat night and she said I could
(02:32):
move in with Jodie, but therewere going to be strict
conditions.
Feeling somewhat elated, Ifound Jodie at the bar and asked
her if the room was stillavailable.
It was, so I agreed to move inthat weekend.
Now, before I get to this, asmall background story which you
might find amusing.
Between my last operation andthis one, my then wife and I
(02:52):
decided we would go up the coastfor a week to a family unit
which was right on the beach.
Ironically, we were staying inthe unit when I had first met
her about six years prior.
It was a good week and veryrelaxing.
Now there used to be a communitymarket on a Sunday back then
and, given the hippie typecommunity it was, it had all of
the fun stalls selling thingslike bongs and other
paraphernalia.
(03:13):
So remember I was looking likea druggie shaved head, goaty
beard, without a moustache, butit was long, pierced nose etc.
My wife was very, very cleancut.
Anyway, we're at this markethaving a potter around as you do
.
We come across this storeselling said smoking
paraphernalia and I stopped tohave a little look, as one might
.
I find these two pipes whichwere actually quite ingenious.
(03:36):
One was a self-loading pipe andone had a fine five cone
rotating cylinder.
Now I thought they might be goodthings to have lying around the
car and or a human on my nextjob.
So I show them to my wife.
Yep, no issues my money if Iwant to spend it on that, et
cetera, et cetera.
So I buy them, I hand over themoney, they put it into a
(03:58):
nondescript bag and the changeis given back because cash was
king back then.
As I'm taking my change, thewife pipes up, and not in a
quiet way you need to get areceipt so you can write them
off in tax.
I just look at her with a whatthe fuck look on my face.
I turn back to the stall ownerand smile and say don't worry
about it.
(04:18):
My wife pipes up again no, youcan write it off on tax.
I gently lead her away from thestall and have a discussion
about how most drug dealersdon't do taxes, let alone write
off.
Smoking implements.
Her argument yes, but I was anundercover policeman, which she
said a little too loudly.
Needless to say, we didn't stayat the markets too much longer.
(04:39):
Nice story.
But why is this important?
I hear you ask.
Good question.
It would have been about threedays after I'd moved into
Jodie's place when her boyfriendDave came around.
It was mid-afternoon, probablyabout 3pm-ish.
Jodie wasn't working that day,so we were just sitting around
chit-chatting.
David came in enjoying theconversation and it seemed like
(05:01):
everything was cool.
After about an hour and a halfhe turns to me and, pulling an
alf-oil package out of hispocket, says feel like a smoke?
Okay, so here was a conundrum.
As an undercover police officer, should I be smoking drugs?
If I said no, would that throwsuspicion on me?
If I said yes, could I get awaywith simulating smoking it?
(05:22):
Now, simulating is when youpretend to smoke by not inhaling
it into your lungs and justkeeping most of it in your mouth
.
Pretty easy to spot if you weredoing it all the time and
sitting close to someone.
Now I had these two pipes whichhad to be broken in as well.
Okay, that isn't a reason initself to smoke, but it was a
good conversation starter.
(05:42):
I went with the.
I am genuinely concerned thatthis is a test and therefore
need to go ahead.
So Dave and I venture out ontothe balcony of the house, we sit
down and he opens the alfalfapackage and there is a fair
amount of green leafy materialin it and you could just smell
it.
Jodie brought out a bowl andsome scissors.
Be careful with this stuff, itis very potent she said to me
(06:06):
yeah, all good.
I replied, whilst secretlyhaving a conniption.
So we decided to use therotating cone pipe.
Dave cut it up and packed thefive cones and started the first
one.
I think it took me about threeinhales before it started to hit
me.
By the end of the second cone Iwas literally having an
(06:32):
out-of-body experience.
It went something like thisDave would say something to me
like ask a question or just makea comment.
I was hearing myself say Daveis talking.
Okay, Dave has finished.
It's your turn to respond.
You need to say this Starttalking now.
Okay, stop talking.
Look at him and listen to whathe has to say.
Take a puff, hand it back.
(06:52):
Your turn to talk.
Start talking now.
Okay, stop talking.
It was a very bizarreexperience and I remember it
like it was yesterday, and it isvery, very so.
Drugs are bad.
Okay.
Luckily, I didn't say anythingstupid or give anything away as
to my true identity and why Iwas there and got through it
(07:15):
without an issue Well, exceptfor being bloody hungry.
A few hours later, the next day,I met up with my controller
outside of town and went throughthat whole story, it was
decided that I needed to get aplace of my own, as that was
(07:35):
going to become a bit of anissue and possibly a security
risk.
Luckily, there was a block offour units at the top of town
and three of them had becomevacant.
It was like a strip of them allground floor level one bedroom,
one bathroom types.
There was a vacant block to thesouth in the railway line, and
then, across the main road, wasthe top of the town business
district.
Down to the next corner was theclub hotel.
All in all, a five minute walk.
The other good thing mycontroller already had a new,
(07:57):
already had a unit there, and Iended up getting a unit right
next door to each other, whichmeant that accidentally talking
to each other shouldn't raiseany issues or concerns in the
community.
I moved in about three weeksafter her and it was perfect
cover.
I was able to duck in the backdoor of her place and no one
would be any the wiser.
I also had a fair few dinnersin her place too, which was good
(08:19):
.
So because there was no carportattached to this unit block, we
basically had to park our carsout the front of the unit.
Now, remember I said I'd beengiven a Toyota Lexus, which was
basically the Holden Camaro witha Toyota badge on it.
Everyone in town knew it was mycar.
It kind of stood out as it wasmaroon that I drove it
(08:40):
everywhere to footy training, tothe supermarket, to shop,
sometimes to the pub, but neverif I was drinking, didn't make
matters any easier to not knowit was mine.
Now, the football competition wewere in was regional, which
meant we had to drive to otherregional towns for games, the
furthest being about athree-hour drive.
So it happened that I was oneof the few players that actually
(09:02):
had a license and I drove fiveof us out to the game and back.
One day we lost, which wasstandard.
But the point of the story isthe following Friday night I out
and one of the teammates made acomment that kind of shook me.
He said something about goingfor a ride the previous weekend
in a police car.
When I looked at himquizzically he responded yeah,
(09:23):
your car.
I thought it was a police car,mate.
It's a Toyota, for fuck's sake,as if the police would drive
one of those and a car as crapas mine.
I replied Just saying what itlooks like he said.
Now that threw me.
Not only was I not getting anyintroductions, I was starting to
be questioned as to why I wasin town and all sorts of rumours
(09:44):
were being spread.
Apparently, to date, I hadinformation that one of the most
recognisable guys in town wasselling speed locally.
To date, I had information thatone of the most recognisable
guys in town was selling Speedlocally.
His name was Snake and he wasnamed thus because he had a very
noticeable tattoo.
Yep, you guessed it.
It was a snake that woundaround his neck, with its heads
coming out under his chin.
It was a very conspicuoustattoo, if you ask me.
(10:07):
No one is going to rememberthat.
Now.
I tried getting into his group,but he too was suspicious of me
telling someone he didn't trustme.
No one is going to rememberthat.
Now.
I tried getting into his group,but he too was suspicious of me
telling someone he didn't trustme.
Then there was the informationabout the licensee's son selling
speed across the coast.
He I did have an in with, butagain, I just couldn't get him
to sell to me.
There was another guy who wasliterally like the pied piper of
(10:28):
the town.
He was about early 30s and hehad all the teenagers falling at
his feet, like the 16 and 17year old girls.
One day we were at the pubplaying pool.
One of these 10 girls who was17 and he had this effect on her
Her mother was a barmaid whoworked at the hotel, so the girl
was always in the public bar.
Now she was a very good poolplayer.
(10:50):
This day we were playing pooland he walked in.
She went and swooned all overhim and another few friends came
in, including one of the boys Iplayed footy with.
He would have been about 19 or20.
So here I am with a whole bunchof literal teenagers playing
pool.
After about an hour of pool,this girl suggested we all go to
her place to hang out.
(11:11):
I looked at her mum who noddedit was okay, but she also had a
word to keep an eye on herdaughter and not let her alone
with Mr Piper.
So we walk up to our house andthere was a lot of conversations
going on.
One I did pick up on was thisgirl asking our Piper if he
could get any speed.
My ears pricked up and Ilistened intently.
We get to the house and goinside.
(11:33):
We're all sitting around in thelounge room and I sit next to Mr
Piper and asked him if he gaveany speed to this girl.
I said if you have some, mate,I'd be interested in getting
some.
I have money, so no issues withwanting freebies like she does.
He looked at me with a smirk.
She doesn't get freebies.
Trust earns it.
Yeah right, I said I honestlydidn't want to know, but I
(11:56):
persisted.
Can you get me some?
He said look, I don't have anyon me, but I am expecting some
more this weekend.
I can probably get you somethen, right?
I said where are you getting itfrom?
Wrong question to ask what Areyou a cop?
Why do you care?
He replied.
(12:16):
Now I was thinking to myself.
These people are very jumpy fora bunch of country people.
There is more going on here.
Nah, mate, no reason.
I just have some friends on thecoast who are looking for some
more gear.
Maybe you could help me outbefore I go over this weekend.
So I was going to the coastthat weekend.
My favourite band, skunk Out,were playing on the coast and
myself and one of the other UCswho was doing a job there were
(12:40):
going to go.
If I needed to introducesomeone, he was the mate I would
use.
Yeah, not sure.
He said I'll see what I get andlet you know.
Yeah, mate, all sure.
He said I'll see what I get andlet you know.
Yeah, mate, all good.
I said Just let me know.
I decided it was time to get outof there, as it was all going
downhill very quickly.
The two teen girls had decidedthey would be giving a fashion
(13:03):
show and the clothes gotskimpier and more revealing.
One of them was wearing asee-through plastic dress.
I did not want to be there andhave that come up during any
court case, so I bailed.
I went back to the hotel andtold the marbae what was going
on.
She just shrugged and said okay, she says she gets in wet
knickers when she sees him, so Iguess she's showing off.
Thought to myself this is a 17year old daughter she's talking
(13:26):
about, and this is why countrykids don't finish high school
and never leave these towns.
They're all pregnant at 16 or17.
I bailed and walked back to myunit.
As I got there, a group of guyswere standing in the street.
You see, snake lived just downthe road in one of the houses
and he was letting some of thelocal lads crash there.
(13:46):
Mick one of them yelled out yes, mate, what's going on?
I said as I walked up to themNot much, snake's missus has
just kicked me out.
Don't suppose I can crash onyour couch, can I?
He asked.
Mate, I can't.
I'm off to the coast tomorrow,and not that I don't trust you,
but I don't want any parties oranything, and you tend to get
drunk and invite people to party.
(14:07):
I said.
He genuinely looked hurt, butit was not an option.
Any idea where I can get somespeed before I go over?
I asked I was starting to getdesperate for a target and it
was showing Nah, not really,maybe snake.
He said yeah, I tried that.
I said so I was 0 and 3 or 4.
(14:30):
So I was 0 and 3 or 4 or maybe5 anyway.
Steve had not been into townsince our discussion and I was
getting nowhere.
My controller was having herdoubts about this information
and his ability or desire tointro me to anyone.
So was I.
That Friday night I was out andabout again as I usually was.
Steve actually came into theclub hotel and was sitting at
(14:51):
the end of the bar.
He clocked me as I walked inand called me over.
Mick, how you going?
He asked.
Steve haven't seen you for awhile.
Are you good?
Yeah, I replied.
Yeah, I've been busy.
He replied yeah, I guess youhave been.
I said Just then I noticed ayoung fella sitting with him
listening to the conversation.
(15:13):
How are you, mate you alright?
Yeah, I said to him.
Do I know you?
He was about to speak whenStephen piped up.
Nah, you don't, mick.
This is Darren.
He's someone who I know, whohas an issue with getting rid of
some plants he has Now.
By plants, I assume Steve meantweed.
I'd come to this town expectingto get intro'd into a speed
(15:33):
syndicate and instead was beingintro'd to a 20 year old weed
dealer Mate, I said, as I shookhis hand.
Now to Steve, I said what do youmean?
Plants?
He has a couple of pounds ofweed he needs to unload.
Steve said there was noskittish like the last time.
Yeah, steve said you might beinterested in buying some, as
(15:55):
you have friends on the coastwho can move it.
Darren said Is that right?
Did Steve tell you that?
I said, looking around at Steve.
Yeah, I did, because it's true,isn't it?
Steve asked me.
I thought to myself True isn'tit?
Steve asked me.
I thought to myself I so wantto punch you in the head right
(16:17):
now.
I turned back to Darren Mate.
Sure, why not?
How much?
Oh, three grand for the pound.
Okay, so a little bit of weedeconomics here.
A pound of weed is 16 ounces.
An ounce is 28 grams.
Weed is usually sold by thequarter ounce, ie seven grams,
(16:37):
half ounce or an ounce bags.
A seven, which is a quarterounce, is about $100, a bag A
half ounce about $200, and anounce about $320.
So, worst case, you can sellthe weed by the ounce and you're
making about $2,000 on your$3,000 investment.
By the half ounce bag andyou're making about $3,000.
(17:00):
By quarter bags, you're makingabout $3,500.
Not a bad little earner,provided you didn't get caught
carrying the bags and you couldfind a market to sell it.
Speed, ecstasy and coke weretaking the markets by storm and
were much cheaper drugs andeasier to hide and sell.
That said, I had a financialincentive to buy the weed, so I
could try and haggle on that.
(17:21):
I decided against it and agreedto the price.
Darren gave me his address andI agreed to go out to his place
the following week to pick upthe wheat Deal done.
Now I had been buying powdersand had no idea how much a pound
of wheat was going to besize-wise.
Obviously, I knew a pound wasgoing to be a pound, but that
(17:44):
was going to be next week'sproblem.
Later that night I bumped intoMr Pied Piper and again I hit
him up for that speed, but to noavail.
My other options were becomingless and less interested in
selling to me as well.
It seemed that the weed deal wasabout all this operation had
going for it.
Well that and I was gettingsome intel on what we believed
was the speed syndicate.
They were believed to own a pubin a little town further out
(18:07):
into the country.
It was also believed that theyhad a property not far from the
pub where they manufactured thespeed and it was then
distributed out of this pub.
I took a drive one day out thatway with Steve where he pointed
out the places he believes itwas being manufactured on this
property, etc.
The pub had a large number ofthe syndicate's particular means
of transport parked out thefront that day, so there was no
(18:29):
way I was going in for a drinkto suss it out.
I'd made some notes and passedthese on to my controller.
Anyway, back to the weed.
The next morning I caught upwith the controller and told her
about the proposed buy, toldher I would do it Tuesday during
the day and where the addresswas, etc.
I also told her about mestriking out with the speed
(18:50):
angles Whilst I was over at thecoast enjoying myself.
She would organise the cash forthe wee buy and also do a recce
on the property I would begoing to.
After a very big weekend I justmanaged to make it back to my
unit on the Sunday night.
The next morning my controllerand I had a chat and she gave me
her thoughts on my buy.
She didn't see any issues.
She had identified Darren andhad a good idea of who he was.
(19:12):
So it was decided I would goand do the buy.
I spent most of Mondayrecovering and didn't venture
too far from my bed, to behonest.
The next morning I woke upfeeling much better, caught up
with my controller, got themoney and then organised to meet
Darren at his place about 11am.
It was going to be about a 15to20 minute drive out of town to
his place.
(19:33):
It wasn't a farm or anythingmore like a larger out of town
block.
The driveway was right off thehighway and I turned in and
drove down.
Now I decided to record this bywith a recording device, so I
was a little bit nervous, as Ialways was when I was wearing a
recording device.
There was no real history forDarren, definitely no violence
(19:55):
history, but it was just one ofthose normal butterfly feeling
type feelings I had going into anew buy.
I pull up outside this low setbrick house that had a garage.
Separate to the house.
There was a couple of carbodies that looked like someone
was trying to fix up sittingaround the house.
It looked very, very SouthAmerican, south America, deep
(20:17):
South.
You know what I mean.
As I pull up, darren sticks hishead out of the door, obviously
making sure who it was.
He comes out to the cardriver's side Mick, good to see
you.
He says as I'm getting out.
Yeah, mate, you too Nice andsecluded out here.
I said to him yeah, it is,which is good.
I then said so, do you have theweed?
Yep, do you have the money?
(20:37):
He asked me.
So, do you have the weed?
Yep, do you have the money?
He asked me.
It was now a game of Russianroulette.
Who was going to show?
First?
I do, mate, go and get the weedand you can have the money, I
said.
He looked at me and then heturned and walked into the house
.
I won.
Now I was a little bit worriedthat he could go inside get a
(20:57):
weapon and that would be me, butI also knew he didn't have a
history of doing that.
He came back out with a garbagebag that was full.
Now I don't know what I wasexpecting.
An ounce of heroin was onlysmall.
A pound would be maybe the sizeof a softball, but this was
huge.
It's like when you take outyour old clothes and put them in
(21:18):
a garbage bag to take them tothe vinnies bin.
It was that big.
I opened the boot of the carand he proceeded to put it in.
Now I couldn't say, gee, Iwasn't expecting that, as I was
supposed to be a dealer.
But I was slightly taken abackas I handed over the money.
I said I'll take this over tothe coach this week and see how
it sells.
(21:38):
If I get good feedback, then,mate, this will be a regular
thing.
Yeah, sounds good, mick, hesaid, and with that I got in the
car and drove back to my safehouse.
When I got there, I take thebag out of the car, went into my
unit front door, out my backdoor and then into my
(21:59):
controller's unit in one go.
We weighed it, we photographedit and we bagged and tagged it.
That night I did my notes andwe finally had a buy and we were
on our way.
About a week later I was outhaving breakfast with a girl who
had gravitated into my circleof friends over the previous few
weeks.
She was a barrel rider and boycould she ride.
Anyway, we were having a latebreakfast when I got a phone
(22:22):
call.
I answered it, not actuallyknowing who it was.
Remember back then you had 10stored numbers without names and
there was no caller ID liketoday.
You had to remember who wasnumber one, who was number two,
who was number three.
Anyway, it turned out it was oneof the sergeants from the
covert squad.
He basically told me I had todrop what I was doing, go back
(22:43):
to my unit, pack it up, clean itup and be back in the office.
That afternoon I asked why andI was told you'll find out when
you get back here.
There was not much else I coulddo.
I made my excuses, dropped herhome and went back to my unit
and got to packing and minimalcleaning.
Let's be honest, I literallydisappeared into the night,
(23:03):
except it was day.
My controller had alreadypacked up her unit and was
waiting for me to take my keysback to the real estate.
I packed and cleaned as quicklyas I could.
It wasn't a real good job,though.
We drove out of town and I wasback in the office by about 4pm
that afternoon.
We drove out of town and I wasback in the office by about 4pm
that afternoon.
I had a quick debrief and mycar was changed out.
(23:23):
I was told that the close downwould be in three days time and
my controller wouldn't be going,but one of the covert sergeants
would be, and he was going todrive me up the day before the
raids.
We would be staying in a motelone night and I wasn't allowed
to go out the next morning.
We'd be there when they did theraids and then we would drive
straight back that afternoon.
(23:44):
That was all the information Igot.
Two days later, I was drivenback to the town.
We left after lunch and didn'ttake the usual direct route.
We went through a number ofback roads and properties to get
into town.
We even got chased by a bull aswe drove down some off the
track dirt road.
We went to the police stationand then straight to the hotel
(24:06):
or motel.
Rather, I wasn't given any realinformation.
I mean, we chatted and talkedbut when I asked about what had
happened it drew no comment.
The next morning I was up at4am.
We went off to the policestation and they were doing a
briefing on the raids.
I gave as much information as Icould on the targets they were
going to hit the licensees' sonDarren, mr Pied, piper Snake and
(24:30):
one or two of the other peopleI had identified as possibles,
plus some they had wantedthrough a reason to raid as well
.
By mid-morning the raids hadwound up and I had about six
people in custody with amultitude of charges.
That was it.
After lunch we drove back tothe city and I was done.
The job was closed abruptly.
I never found out what happened, but from the information I was
(24:53):
given, I think someone saidsomething and I was blown.
I must believe it was Stephendoing a backflip and trying to
cover his tracks.
But I never found out.
Nor will I ever.
As for Stephen, I have no ideawhat happened to him.
From that ignominious closure,I had about another two months
with the squad whilst I did myfinal paperwork and tidied up
(25:16):
all the bits and pieces.
I was able to go and do aninvestigator's course, which was
a two-week course.
I actually had to live in atthe academy to do the course,
which became a precursor toleaving my wife.
That's another story.
I grew my hair out, I shaved mybeard and I took my earring and
nose ring out.
I was back wearing a uniform,as if the last two and a bit
(25:38):
years had not happened, giventhe issues with certain previous
UCs demanding payouts from thegovernment.
I was given three sessions of apsychologist intervention to
make sure I could readapt tonormal policing life and then,
on a cold August Sunday morning,I was back on the beat being
shown the ropes by a youngfemale who had literally
(26:00):
finished her first year trainingtwo weeks prior.
As a welcome back to policing,the universe decided to make
sure that first shift was a shitshow, with a car accident, an
attempted suicide and a deadbody my first three jobs.
I lasted another nine years inuniform before I decided to pull
the pin.
(26:20):
I lasted another nine years inuniform before I decided to pull
the pin.
That, however, will all beexplained in the final episode
of the Whisper in the Shadowspodcast, the true story of a
real life undercover cop who isme, michael Bates.
I look forward to telling thefinal chapter of this story next
week.
Until then, goodbye.
Thank you for listening toWhisper in the Shadows, my true
(26:52):
stories of a real lifeundercover cop.
Until then, goodbye.
Lastly, if you're an ex-COVIDoperative or undercover police
officer, I would love to chat toyou about your experiences or,
if you're feeling dangerous,tell your stories on my podcast.
Please get in contact by myemail, which is
whisperintheshadowspodcast atgmailcom.
I look forward to you joiningme next time.
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