The Microdot Gang: The Rise and Fall of the LSD Network That Turned on the World

by James Wyllie

The biggest drug bust in British history occurred in the early hours of 25 March 1977: 800 officers made 120 arrests and seized a staggering 6,000,000 tabs of LSD.
The raids focused on two acid manufacturing centres; one hidden in an isolated farmhouse in deepest Wales, the other in a suburban house on a leafy residential street in south-west London. Between them they supplied acid to most of the UK, Europe, America and beyond. Tabs bearing their logo were recovered as far away as Australia.
James Wyllie tells the extraordinary story of how a middle-aged American academic, two idealistic British students, a public school cad and an American hustler formed the Microdot Gang and created an acid production line designed to turn on the world. It is the story of Operation Julie - a police operation unprecedented in scale, sophistication and complexity, the brainchild of an old-school detective who led an investigation that would eventually involve the security services, the FBI, the DEA, the Canadian authorities and the Swiss police.
Ranging over a decade and across several continents, The Microdot Gang is also a tale of how a cultural movement became a criminal enterprise, inspiring the war on drugs and launching a revolution that left an enduring and complex legacy.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

256 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 2022

Reviews

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

In March 1977 police made a major bust that arrested tons of people and discovered an alarming amount of LSD. The Microdot Gang had been formed by a variety of folk who thought they could change the world with their psychedelic drugs. I found some of this interesting but other parts dragged a little. It wasn't as intriguing a case as I thought it might be.

[Mr Calum I MacIver · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of Operation Julie and the individuals involved has been oft told, but James Wyllie manages to tell the tale in an accessible manner that contextualises the history and growth of LSD, while providing interesting pictures of the key individuals. The international nature of the key acid labs of the period and the intrigues and the mysteries surrounding some of the key individuals is deftly told in a serious, but still appropriately pacey style. Wylie’s approach sees something both admirable and sad in the committed acid visionaries and cooks who believed that LSD was a key to consciousness and the future of mankind. His portrayal of the police is also well-handled and helps them come across as very human and not as cliched, quasi-fascist, bully boys. The links between the acid underground and the early ‘70s urban terrorist groupings is a hugely interesting (if slightly distractive from the main narrative) as are the various shadowy and dubious CIA connections. Overall “The Microsoft Gang” is a fascinating story that is skilfully and artfully told by the author.

[Bonita Norris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really helped piece together what they did in the context of the era.

[Finn Brandon-Quick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging and enjoyable