To Catch a Scorpion: A Sting in the Tail

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Factual: Crime & Justice

A dramatic hunt for one of Europe's most-wanted people smugglers, recorded as it unfolds.

Two seasoned investigators go on a dramatic hunt for one of Europe's most-wanted crime bosses. Code-named Scorpion, he's smuggled thousands of people into the UK and is on the run.

'Jaw dropping', 'gripping', 'bingeable,' 'thrilling' - dramatic true stories and investigations that reveal how the world really works.

To Catch A Scorpion: The dramatic hunt for one of Europe's most-wanted people smugglers, recorded as it unfolds. 

BBC journalist, Sue Mitchell, and former soldier and aid worker, Rob Lawrie go on a search for a crime boss: a people smuggler on the run, whose codename is Scorpion. He is one of the central characters controlling the transport of migrants from the European mainland into the UK. 

Barzan Majeed - codenamed Scorpion - leads the Scorpion gang. He's on international most-wanted lists. He started his criminal career in Britain and went on to build a smuggling empire which now spans the globe. 

An international police surveillance operation trapped more than 20 of his gang and almost netted Scorpion himself, but he was tipped off and escaped. 

Sue and Rob, two seasoned investigators, team up to try to do what the police have been unable to achieve: to find Scorpion, to speak to him, to ask him to account for his crimes and to seek justice for the families he has harmed. 

Their investigation takes them to the heart of an organised criminal gang making millions from transporting thousands of migrants on boat and lorry crossings that in some cases have gone dangerously wrong, causing serious injury and putting lives at risk. They witness his operation in action and record as intense situations unfold, where vulnerable people desperate for a better future, put their lives in the hands of ruthless and dangerous criminals. 

As they edge ever closer, they meet the people helping and supporting Scorpion and unpick the financial side of his business funding his luxury life. As they start to understand the man himself, can they garner enough clues to trace his whereabouts?

To Catch a Scorpion

BBC Radio 4 FM

Intrigue: To Catch a Scorpion: To Catch a Scorpion: 9. A Sting in the Tail

To Catch a Scorpion: 9. A Sting in the Tail

BBC Radio 4 - Intrigue, To Catch a Scorpion, To Catch a Scorpion: 9. A Sting in the Tail

Things move quickly following the release of this series and Scorpion has nowhere to hide.

The series attracts worldwide publicity and attention falls on how the BBC managed to do what law agencies couldn't: finding and questioning a convicted people smuggler on the run.

Barzan Majeed thought he was safe in Iraq but all that changes following the release of this series. Authorities in Iraq start their own investigation and before long they announce dramatic developments. For reporter Sue Mitchell, and her colleague, former soldier and aid worker, Rob Lawrie, the news signals possibilities for securing justice for some of those harmed in his boat and lorry crossings.

This a bonus episode which covers developments following this BBC investigation. In the Kurdish controlled areas of Northern Iraq Barzan Majeed's smuggling operations come under intense scrutiny. The Deputy Prime Minister, Qubad Talabani, tells the programme that he hopes for a closer working relationship with Europe when it comes to tracking and dealing with smugglers like Scorpion.

For the UK’s National Crime Agency the developments signal a real possibility of securing justice for families who have suffered. This is also a chance to progress links with Iraq that might help in other cases. There are more cases like Barzan’s – where smugglers have been tried in their absence by courts in Europe but have evaded capture and are thought to be still operating. Those names have now also been passed to authorities in Iraq.

Intrigue: To Catch a Scorpion

BBC Radio 4

Intelligent speech, the most insightful journalism, the wittiest comedy, the most fascinating features and the most compelling drama and readings anywhere in UK radio.

Factual: Crime & Justice: True Crime

Two seasoned investigators go on a dramatic hunt for one of Europe's most-wanted crime bosses. Codenamed Scorpion, he's smuggled thousands of people into the UK and is on the run.

Intrigue: 'Jaw dropping', 'gripping', 'bingeable,' 'thrilling' - dramatic true stories and investigations that reveal how the world really works. 

To Catch A Scorpion: 
The dramatic hunt for one of Europe's most-wanted people smugglers, recorded as it unfolds. 

BBC journalist, Sue Mitchell, and former soldier and aid worker, Rob Lawrie go on a search for a crime boss: a people smuggler on the run, whose codename is Scorpion. He is one of the central characters controlling the transport of migrants from the European mainland into the UK. 

Barzan Majeed - codenamed Scorpion - leads the Scorpion gang. He's on international most-wanted lists. He started his criminal career in Britain and went on to build a smuggling empire which now spans the globe. 

An international police surveillance operation trapped more than 20 of his gang and almost netted Scorpion himself, but he was tipped off and escaped. 

Sue and Rob, two seasoned investigators, team up to try to do what the police have been unable to achieve: to find Scorpion, to speak to him, to ask him to account for his crimes and to seek justice for the families he has harmed. 

Their investigation takes them to the heart of an organised criminal gang making millions from transporting thousands of migrants on boat and lorry crossings that in some cases have gone dangerously wrong, causing serious injury and putting lives at risk. They witness his operation in action and record as intense situations unfold, where vulnerable people desperate for a better future, put their lives in the hands of ruthless and dangerous criminals. 

As they edge ever closer, they meet the people helping and supporting Scorpion and unpick the financial side of his business funding his luxury life. As they start to understand the man himself, can they garner enough clues to trace his whereabouts?

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