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Banged Up Abroad: Hellhole: Our Fight to Survive South America's Deadliest Jail
'There are 3,000 drugged-up psychopaths, armed to the teeth with blades, shooters and bombs. That's the only way I can describe Yare. It's a murderous viper's nest of assassins, cut throats and killers.'When James Miles and his best friend Paul Loseby were caught smuggling ten kilos of cocaine out of Caracas, Venezuela, they couldn't deny their guilt. Young and naive, the lads had thought the one-off drug mule job would be a passport to a better life. But in reality it was a ticket to hell ...They were sentenced to thirty years and flung into the world's deadliest prison system, ending up in the notorious Yare. A place where drugs and weaponry are currency and the rules there are no rules.This is the gripping true-life story of how two men endured untold savagery in the most appalling conditions. It's about what it's like to witness murder and rape every day, fearing you'll be next. How it feels to join a dangerous Latino gang and eat dead rats in order to survive. And, what you do when you're at the centre of a riot between thousands of men with machine guns.As seen on Channel 5's Banged Up Abroad, this is the most shocking prison story ever told and an inspiring account of human endurance.
- GenresNonfictionTrue Crime
336 pages, Paperback
First published June 9, 2011
29 people are currently reading
314 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
July 22, 2015
This book just kept me coming back, it's not for the faint of heart but enthralling and an emotional roller-coaster!
July 26, 2013
Brutal! This book gets straight into the action! Amazing how people can survive such horrors and go on to live a normal life. Obviously silly for what they did but no doubt extremely brave men. Read it in a day, it was that exciting.
August 10, 2017
Great read, I felt compelled to keep reading, it was definately a book I could'nt put down!
Obviously graffic in places but I think anyone reading a book like this may expect it.
Would recommend if you like prison stories
Obviously graffic in places but I think anyone reading a book like this may expect it.
Would recommend if you like prison stories
April 24, 2022
The book itself is good but the way this book was written I think James & Paul were acting like they were the victims instead of the criminals.I also thought some of the descriptions in this book were made up because if everything in this book was true then they're clearly the luckiest people ever on this planet to survive a Venezuela prison.
They said they saw no opportunity or future in Leicester because they were working for £20 a week but most places around the world are like this.People shouldn't confuse the movies with the reality.They also said they'd never been on holiday before (until they did the crime) but there's a lot of people on this planet that have never been on holiday before and I don't think they'd risk getting caught smuggling 10 kilogrammes of cocaine just to go on one.
Yes I believe James and Paul was set-up but that's the risk you take when you do drug deals.
The picture Quality in this book is like an image from a black and white newspaper and it's that's bad that you can barely see what's going on in them so I knocked a star off for them.
Free advice to whoever reads this review
"When a Person,Place or Thing sounds or looks to good to be true...it usually is".
They said they saw no opportunity or future in Leicester because they were working for £20 a week but most places around the world are like this.People shouldn't confuse the movies with the reality.They also said they'd never been on holiday before (until they did the crime) but there's a lot of people on this planet that have never been on holiday before and I don't think they'd risk getting caught smuggling 10 kilogrammes of cocaine just to go on one.
Yes I believe James and Paul was set-up but that's the risk you take when you do drug deals.
The picture Quality in this book is like an image from a black and white newspaper and it's that's bad that you can barely see what's going on in them so I knocked a star off for them.
Free advice to whoever reads this review
"When a Person,Place or Thing sounds or looks to good to be true...it usually is".
September 14, 2017
For anyone who likes the national geographic programme 'banged up abroad'.
This is a true life and shocking story of 2 lads who made a huge mistake by smuggling drugs to Venezula.
The story is good but somewhat shocking and repetitive at times. Badly written in places too but generally I enjoyed reading it.
This is a true life and shocking story of 2 lads who made a huge mistake by smuggling drugs to Venezula.
The story is good but somewhat shocking and repetitive at times. Badly written in places too but generally I enjoyed reading it.
April 18, 2018
If you ever get complacent about living in your quiet corner of the world buy this book and get an insight into the violence and depravity of Venezuelan jail hell-holes. No-one could complain about British police or prisoner officers after reading this, however imperfect they may be. A really good read.
February 13, 2021
Was hovering between a 3 and 4. Given what they had to endure and their willingness to tell their story, not for bragging rights but as a deterrent, I felt it warranted a 4. Tough lads who were very naive starting out and paid hell for it. Not sure what's come of them now but was intriguing to hear their story
January 30, 2023
What an excellent read
Two bored teenagers ready to bring a small amount of drugs back from Venezuela for £9000 only to be stopped at the plane door in their return,that's when their nightmare begins.
Two bored teenagers ready to bring a small amount of drugs back from Venezuela for £9000 only to be stopped at the plane door in their return,that's when their nightmare begins.
February 21, 2018
An intense insight to the corrupt justice systems of South America, with the general theme of deterring young people from committing crime, this book captivated me!
April 2, 2018
What a page turner!!!! Gobsmacking events! Excellent read!
May 12, 2019
Fantastic
Excellent book, really well put together. What an insane story, I hope more is done to stop these horrendous conditions.
Excellent book, really well put together. What an insane story, I hope more is done to stop these horrendous conditions.
April 16, 2021
Thanks to people like Jim and Paul and their strength to share their stories.
January 16, 2025
It was okay but I did find it a bit repetitive and some of the stories a bit fanciful.
August 25, 2025
a great story of survival
Brilliant read. Yes they committed a crime, but they survived the most inhumane circumstances. Good luck to them both and their futures.
Brilliant read. Yes they committed a crime, but they survived the most inhumane circumstances. Good luck to them both and their futures.
June 3, 2016
If you have not read a book about the English/Australian/American being caught smuggling drugs and banged up in a hellhole then read this excellent book. It makes "The Damage Done" and "Midnight Express" seem like Stir Crazy.
Yes these guys from Leicester shouldn't on the surface be giving any sympathy or become famous on the back of trying to earn some dough for drug smuggling. But I defy anyone to read this and not feel some degree of sympathy for them.
You feel like you need a long shower after reading this. The guys have to arm themselves to the teeth to avoid being murdered on a daily basis. They are one breath away from a plethora of nasty diseases. One wingbeat away from being stung by hornets that are large enough and venomous enough to kill and eat tarantulas. The result of one of the Leicester lads being stung is truly awful.
On their first day in the main prison they queue for breakfast and a guy is shot in front of them. The National Guard regularly use the prisoners for target practice or simply to exert beatings with the flat side of a sword for being in the wrong place in the yard.
BUT the relationships and friendships they develop are fascinating and they have to do this to survive.
An excellent read of this genre.
Yes these guys from Leicester shouldn't on the surface be giving any sympathy or become famous on the back of trying to earn some dough for drug smuggling. But I defy anyone to read this and not feel some degree of sympathy for them.
You feel like you need a long shower after reading this. The guys have to arm themselves to the teeth to avoid being murdered on a daily basis. They are one breath away from a plethora of nasty diseases. One wingbeat away from being stung by hornets that are large enough and venomous enough to kill and eat tarantulas. The result of one of the Leicester lads being stung is truly awful.
On their first day in the main prison they queue for breakfast and a guy is shot in front of them. The National Guard regularly use the prisoners for target practice or simply to exert beatings with the flat side of a sword for being in the wrong place in the yard.
BUT the relationships and friendships they develop are fascinating and they have to do this to survive.
An excellent read of this genre.
December 14, 2013
So my interest in why people do what they do. Why they become what they become is probably the reason I read this book.
So yes probably if one was thinking about becoming a drug mule or to get involved with the drug world this book will scare you.
However I thought at times there was a bit of self glorification, which did not portray prison as such a bad place, but then other times it was hell.
But I guess one had to be in there to really understand the sic environment in the jail.
Great that they have turned there lives around but it clear the memory will always be a part of their lives.
So yes probably if one was thinking about becoming a drug mule or to get involved with the drug world this book will scare you.
However I thought at times there was a bit of self glorification, which did not portray prison as such a bad place, but then other times it was hell.
But I guess one had to be in there to really understand the sic environment in the jail.
Great that they have turned there lives around but it clear the memory will always be a part of their lives.
Read
July 27, 2015This was the first book I ever read at age of 23 lol .. was bored in the house and I picked this up from my mums bookshelf and read it all in four days. Loved it was really good couldn't put it down since then I have been looking for similar books to do with jails abroad. And it also got me into reading so this book means a lot to me.
April 25, 2013
Not as good as some dodgy prison books I have read.
September 20, 2014
A thoroughly enjoyable read.
Read
July 6, 2015good read and honestly when your young u feel you can handle and take on life! er no!! very good gripping read but great to hear they survived and can change
May 2, 2016
Poorly adapted script from an episode of the tv program. Not very good really
May 29, 2016
This is one of my favourite books. I loved it! Fantastically written. Real, raw and honest.
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews