

#2092 - Mariana van Zeller
Jan 25, 2024
Mariana van Zeller, an investigative journalist and host of National Geographic's 'Trafficked with Mariana Van Zeller,' dives into the dark realities of black markets. She shares thrilling tales from her harrowing experiences covering illegal gold mining amidst a military coup. The conversation uncovers the human cost behind luxury goods, the grim world of wildlife trafficking, and the alarming rise of counterfeit pharmaceuticals. Mariana discusses the ethical dilemmas in drug culture and the urgent need for systemic reforms in the prison system.
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Military Coup in Niger
- Mariana van Zeller and her team were in Niger filming a story about gold mining.
- They got stuck there for eight days due to a military coup, facing uncertainty and fear.
Escape from Niger
- After eight days, their team secured an evacuation plane.
- They navigated tense interactions with the military at the airport before escaping.
Ape Trafficking
- Mariana van Zeller investigated ape trafficking in the Congo.
- She discovered that baby apes are sold for exorbitant prices, often to private collectors in Dubai, and their families are killed in the process.