<p>Sue and Rob head to the Iraqi town that’s become a hotbed of smuggling and the starting point for many migrant journeys – Ranya.</p><p>There, they unravel what's happened to scores of missing boys taken hostage and tortured as they try to reach the UK.</p><p>A journalist and an ex-soldier search for the identity of a people smuggler believed to be responsible for thousands of illegal crossings to the UK by small boats and lorries.</p><p>They start with a false name: Kardo Ranya. A man who has evaded arrest for several years by keeping his real identity a closely guarded secret. It makes it near impossible for law enforcement agencies to issue an international arrest warrant.</p><p>They know what he looks like from social media posts advertising his crossings and lifestyle. Their search takes them across Europe and to the Middle East, where they discover a network of powerful smugglers operating from a town in northern Iraq.</p><p>It’s two years since Sue and Rob located a gang leader in their podcast Intrigue: To Catch a Scorpion and the illegal business of migrant journeys is more dangerous and ruthless than before.</p><p>Their investigation reveals the inner mechanics of the smuggling trade and shows in close focus the people who currently control it as they search for a kingpin behind dangerous crossings to the UK by boat and lorry.</p><p>A secret meeting, a missing person and a worried family. Who is the man connecting them?</p><p>The series is recorded and presented by Sue Mitchell and Rob Lawrie.</p><p>It’s produced by Joel Moors.</p><p>Original music is by Mom Tudie and sound design and mix are by Tom Brignell.</p>