Increasing numbers of people from Iran are being sold an escape package out of Turkey and then onto the UK. Who are the men, women and children risking their lives crossing the world's busiest shipping route? And who are the people who sell them the trip?

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today and get one month free at: thetimes.co.uk/storiesofourtimes.

Guest: Louise Callaghan, Middle east correspondent for The Sunday Times.

Host: David Aaronovitch.

Clips: BBC, Channel 4 News.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dark channel: The people smugglers and their clients