Krol Dopalaczy

How do you make big money fast in Poland at the turn of the 2000s?
Many wanted to know but Dawid simply had to find out. When his father’s business collapsed, the family was left with nothing overnight, and Dawid was forced to take responsibility. That’s when someone floated an idea: legal highs. Fully legal substitutes for drugs. Supposedly safe fun for thousands of young people.

The idea took off — and the money started pouring in. The business grew so fast Dawid struggled to keep up with demand. His in-house chemist kept inventing increasingly sophisticated formulas. It felt like the world was at his feet: beautiful women, fast cars, the respect of the criminal underworld and deals made at the highest levels of power.

But it soon became clear that legal highs weren’t quite as legal — or as safe — as promised. Worse still, a police officer who couldn’t be bought entered the game, while competitors were just waiting for the perfect moment to take Dawid down.