Oprichter CALOH WAGOH: 'Vier Dagen Gemarteld, Ik Was Klaar Om Te Sterven'

Overview

The video is an interview with Iwan Massing, described as the founder of the Dutch motorcycle club Caloh Wagoh (Calo/Wago). He shares a life story marked by criminal involvement—gang culture, drugs, violence, and imprisonment—followed by a spiritual conversion to Christianity/Jesus.

Much of the discussion centers on:

• his arrest and violence in youth
• extreme torture in a Surinamese detention prison
• how he tries to leave the criminal world
• how his faith shapes his current life goals

Key Events and Arguments from the Interview

Milestone arrest at gunpoint (“last day”)

Massing describes being stopped nose-to-nose by men in balaclavas with pistols. He recounts the fear that it could be either the police or a kidnapping, and the procedural sequence that followed:

• he was taken to a police station
• a weapon was found at his caravan
• pressure and process led toward court

Allegations and legal consequences in youth

He describes facing accusations tied to multiple murders, while later emphasizing that he was never a murderer.

He also recounts a separate teenage incident: after an altercation on a bus, he describes a violent situation involving a man with a “gold tooth,” leading to charges such as:

• attempted manslaughter
• aggravated assault

He then describes time in police custody and juvenile prison, arguing that serving such a sentence contributed to him becoming “officially a gangster.”

Origins in gang culture (Crips) and early criminal recruitment

He traces his involvement back to around age 12, shaped by factors such as:

• influence from older cousins
• social circumstances
• identity, belonging, and the rise of Crips in The Hague

He describes forming/joining sets (e.g., “Dead Squad Crips”) and engaging in:

• robberies
• drug selling

He also discusses broader social change, arguing that modern family structures—such as both parents working and children being raised more by schools or after-school care—weaken traditional roles and upbringing, increasing the risk of youth violence.

Motorcycle-club structure and initiation practices

Massing explains internal “rules” tied to loyalty and protection. He also describes initiation/joining rituals meant to prove:

• toughness
• commitment

He emphasizes that recruitment and identity-making were central, including a guiding principle of collective responsibility:

“If you take someone in, you’re responsible.”

Suriname torture prison: transformation point

A central narrative involves what happened after smuggling-related events. He describes detention in Suriname and severe torture, including:

• confinement in near-total darkness
• multiple days of extreme abuse and humiliation

He frames this as a turning point: afterward he began praying and reading the Bible. He describes a moment where his decision to abandon the club and follow Jesus becomes firmly solidified.

Current mission: faith-driven rehabilitation and “fair chance”

He says he wants to help other (former or current) criminals and people on the margins get a chance to change.

He mentions program/podcast ideas, including:

• “The Rocking Chair” / “Confessional”: interviewing active criminals and creating a space for reflection—designed not to encourage crime—but intended for spiritual impact (a kind of conversion through hearing oneself).

He also describes taking in boys and homeless youth into his home to provide stability and help prevent them from being drawn into the same path.

A theme of being judged because of the past

He argues that even after serving punishment, he faces continued suspicion and institutional barriers. He claims that Jesus and forgiveness give him a new start, presenting “starting over” as a real possibility rather than permanent labeling.

Failure of trust and the “letting go” struggle in relationships

He discusses his current romantic situation and family dynamics, describing challenges related to:

• control
• trust

He explains that he is learning to “let go” emotionally and practically, and presents faith as the mechanism that changes how he relates to his partner and child.

Later discussion: weed/hash business (historical, not advocacy)

He provides a detailed account of how weed/hash operations worked, including:

• production at scale
• selling to coffeeshops
• cultivation timing and harvesting cycles

However, he repeatedly stresses that he doesn’t encourage this activity, portraying his current stance as repentance and deterrence while explaining the mechanics to illustrate what happened in the past.

Overall Message

The interview’s report/commentary stance is primarily moral-spiritual:

• Criminal life is portrayed as degrading and violent.
• Faith is portrayed as offering genuine renewal, community responsibility, and the ability to forgive and help others.

Presenters / Contributors

• Iwan Massing — guest/interviewee
• Interviewer / host — unnamed in subtitles