Mariana van Zeller

Mariana Van Zeller, an Emmy Award-winning journalist for National Geographic, dives deep into the gritty world of black markets. She shares her chilling experiences inside Central American drug manufacturing sites and encounters with a real assassin in LA. Discussion uncovers disturbing trends like bride trafficking and cartel influence in small-town America. Mariana emphasizes the importance of understanding the societal roots of perceived evil and highlights the resilience and personal stories of those entangled in these underground economies.

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.

Mariana van Zeller, an award-winning investigative journalist and host of Nat Geo's "Trafficked," dives into the shadowy world of black markets. She discusses the chilling rise of ghost guns in America and the emotional toll of joining extremist groups. The conversation shifts to the devastating effects of the opioid crisis, tracing the path from OxyContin to fentanyl. Mariana shares insights on the dark side of exotic pet trading and the exploitation linked to resource extraction, revealing the troubling relationships between global markets and local communities.