Marching Powder by Rusty Young

I have just finished reading "Marching powder" a fascinating account of a drug traffickers time spend in the notorious San Pedros jail in Bolivia. Thomas McFadden , who was caught with 850 grams of cocaine, was discovered by the author of the book, Australian journalist Rusty Young, when he joined a tour of the jail conducted by Thomas. These tours are so popular they have been documented in The Lonely Planet guidebook! Young ended up staying with Thomas and sharing his prison cell for 3 months, in order to document Thomas' story. The book uncovers some fascinating facts about a corrupt prison system that requires prisoners to purchase their own cells through a real estate agent, has restaurants and shops, as well as prosperous businesses manufacturing cocaine. Prisoners are expected to feed and clothe themselves,along with their entire (innocent)families who often choose to move into the prison to keep them together. It was an eye opening account of life in a foreign prison, with a particularly brutal and shocking account of the prisons version of justice being served on three rapists. In a country driven by the dollar, Thomas recounts how life can be made bearable through bribery, to the point he was able to gain a twelve hour pass to leave the prison, and visit a nightclub (with a body guard of course!). Its hard to believe this is real and not made up fiction. It is a remarkable and compelling story that is well worth reading, particularly if you are thinking of visiting Bolivia- any time soon.

Monique

Marching Powder by Rusty Young