Meet Pieter Tritton, once a bright archaeology student in Cardiff who spiralled into a high-stakes world of cocaine trafficking. Known as ‘Posh Pete’, he quickly climbed the ranks from dealing to fellow students to orchestrating major drug shipments from South America to the UK.
But his high-flying life came crashing down in 2005, when a sting operation by Interpol in Ecuador’s capital, Quito, landed him in one of the continent’s most dangerous prisons. Pieter found himself navigating a lawless environment where survival meant aligning with armed gangs and witnessing unimaginable violence, including the brutal murder of a close contact.
Adapting to life behind bars, Pieter faced daily threats and witnessed nightmarish scenes like public stabbings and gunfights. For years, he lived with constant fear, noting, “It was a war zone. You needed money for everything, and the most obvious income was drugs.”
However, the chaos took its toll. The emotional burden culminated in a stark moment of introspection following his friend’s murder right before his eyes. Pieter realised the path he was on could only end in one way – unless he changed it.
After nine harrowing years and the heartbreak of losing his mother while he was incarcerated, Pieter was finally released. Today, he’s turned his back on his old life, carrying with him the heavy weight of regrets and hard-learned lessons. Pieter reflects, “I’ve lost too much already. This isn’t a life I want anymore.”
His journey is a stark reminder of how quickly choices can lead us down dangerous paths. Now free, Pieter embraces a simple life, conscious of how precious and fragile freedom truly is. “I’m lucky to be alive,” he admits, committed to making the most of his second chance.