The Last Voyage of the Pong Su

Latest Episodes:

Introducing Virginia Jul 29, 2026

Show notes

Virginia Giuffre was fearless in taking down some of the world’s most powerful people. As Jeffrey Epstein’s most prominent victim, she helped expose his crimes and hold his friends to account, including the man formerly known as Prince Andrew. But despite her heroic battle in the most notorious sex trafficking case of the 21st century, few knew about one of her toughest fights. It was one she fought privately at home in Australia.

Follow The Age and SMH Investigates to be first to listen to new episodes of Virginia from Walkley-award winning journalist Melissa Fyfe and WA Today reporter Carla Hildebrandt.

Read the Good Weekend feature or our visual story which chronicles the harrowing final months of Virginia Giuffre's life as her marriage unravelled. Visit our websites at smh.com.au, theage.com.au and watoday.com.au, and send questions, information and feedback to virginiapodcast@nine.com.au

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Introducing: Diagnosing Murder Oct 02, 2025

Show notes

For decades, families in Australia and overseas, have been accused of one of the worst crimes imaginable. Diagnosing Murder is an investigative podcast about parents who've had their children taken away, sat in the dock and even done time in prison. All for something they insist they didn't do – shake their baby. Can we trust the science behind shaken baby syndrome? Or are innocent people being locked up for a crime they never committed?
Listen on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/diagnosing-murder/id1843555473
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3LqYqSCZHW4vtA0yhiaJKB?si=f8c56f4b638b4a24
Listen on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLrLulycax358g-04ndbBaBg3ED4Dnyv0S&si=CVXIqoUI6AJ6DD5x

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Introducing: Trial by Water May 26, 2024

Show notes

From The Age and Sydney Morning Herald, Trial by Water is a new investigative podcast series about Robert Farquharson, who has been locked up for decades for an unthinkable crime: murdering his three sons in a dam on Father’s Day, 2005.

Now scientists and lawyers are asking the question: did we get it wrong? And is this man in prison for a crime he didn’t commit?

Episode 1 will arrive on Saturday, June 1.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The double agent Apr 25, 2021

Show notes

Special bonus episode. A human source risks his life by becoming a double agent. His existence and his crucial role in helping police know which syndicate members to shadow before the Pong Su's April 2003 arrival has remained a secret until now.

The Last Voyage of the Pong Su is brought to you by the newsrooms of The Age & Sydney Morning Herald. If you’re enjoying this series, leave a review on iTunes and recommend us to a friend.

Reporter - Richard Baker (Get in touch: rbaker@theage.com.au )
Executive Producer - Rachael Dexter
Narrative Consultant - Kate Cole-Adams
Consulting Producer - Siobhan McHugh
Music & Composition - Vicki Hansen
Sound design & mixing - John Greenfield
Script translations - Yan Zhuang
Production assistance - Margaret Gordon
Head of Audio - Tom McKendrick

Support the show.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pong Su extra: Taking the helm of the Pong Su Dec 23, 2019

Show notes

Nicholas Martin had a very important role in the Pong Su story, but it’s one he’s never talked publicly about until now.

Nicholas was a navy clearance diver who boarded the Pong Su with the SAS troops. After clearing the ship for improvised explosive devices, Nicholas took command of the bridge and working with one of the captured North Koreans steered the Pong Su back to Sydney Harbour.
In this interview you’ll also hear about what it’s like to skipper a navy patrol boat in Australia’s northern water at the age of 20, and what it takes to be a clearance diver.

The Last Voyage of the Pong Su is brought to you by the newsrooms of The Age & Sydney Morning Herald. A new episode of this 10-part series drops on Tuesdays.

If you’re enjoying this series, leave a review on iTunes and recommend us to a friend.

Support the show.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pong Su extra: Mission planning with the SAS Dec 19, 2019

Show notes

In episode 5 of 'The Last Voyage of the Pong Su', we hear from Ben Pronk and Tim Curtis - two men who were part of the Special Air Service Regiment tasked with a dramatic capture of the Pong Su.
In this extended interview you’ll hear about what happened before, during and after the day of this dramatic operation - as well as their memories of the infamous Tampa affair of 2001 and conflict overseas.
Check out Ben and Tim's own podcast 'The Unforgiving60'.

The Last Voyage of the Pong Su is brought to you by the newsrooms of The Age & Sydney Morning Herald. A new episode of this 10-part series drops on Tuesdays.

If you’re enjoying this series, leave a review on iTunes and recommend us to a friend.

Support the show.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Reckoning Dec 09, 2019

Show notes

Episode 10. After 16 years, the truth finally emerges about the tight bond between three of the key players in the heroin import and their ties to North Korea.

The Last Voyage of the Pong Su is a 10-part series brought to you by the newsrooms of The Age & Sydney Morning Herald.

If you enjoyed this series, leave a review on iTunes and recommend us to a friend.

Our supporters power our newsrooms and are critical for the sustainability of news coverage. Click on the links to subscribe to The Age or The Sydney Morning Herald.

Reporter - Richard Baker (Get in touch: rbaker@theage.com.au )
Executive Producer - Rachael Dexter
Narrative Consultant - Kate Cole-Adams
Consulting Producer - Siobhan McHugh
Music & Composition - Vicki Hansen
Sound design & mixing - John Greenfield
Script translations - Yan Zhuang
Assistant Producer - Margaret Gordon
Head of Audio - Tom McKendrick
Actors:
Chin Kwang Lee is played by Andy Song
Kiam Fah Teng is played by Anthony Ting
Yau Kim Lam is played by Jason Chong
Casting - Catapult Casting

Additional audio from: CNN

The reading you heard at the start of this episode was an excerpt from The Truth the Dead Know by Anne Sexton - read by Jason Chong.

Support the show.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The most free they’d ever be Dec 02, 2019

Show notes

Episode 9. Nerves are frayed on all sides as a marathon courtroom case concludes. The Australian government plans for a spectacular end to the Pong Su.

The Last Voyage of the Pong Su is brought to you by the newsrooms of The Age & Sydney Morning Herald. A new episode of this 10-part series drops on Tuesdays.

If you’re enjoying this series, leave a review on iTunes and recommend us to a friend.

Our supporters power our newsrooms and are critical for the sustainability of news coverage. Click on the links to subscribe to The Age or The Sydney Morning Herald.

Reporter - Richard Baker (Get in touch: rbaker@theage.com.au )
Executive Producer - Rachael Dexter
Narrative Consultant - Kate Cole-Adams
Consulting Producer - Siobhan McHugh
Music & Composition - Vicki Hansen
Sound design & mixing - John Greenfield
Script translations - Yan Zhuang
Assistant Producer - Margaret Gordon
Head of Audio - Tom McKendrick
Actors:
Chin Kwang Lee is played by Andy Song
Kiam Fah Teng is played by Anthony Ting
Yau Kim Lam is played by Jason Chong
Casting - Catapult Casting

Additional audio from: Channel Nine and the AFL.

The reading you heard at the start of this episode was from Law of the Jungle by Rudyard Kipling - read by Jason Chong.

Support the show.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The defector's choice Nov 25, 2019

Show notes

Episode 8. Australian prosecutors travel to Seoul to meet North Korean defectors as they try to understand the power structure on board the Pong Su. While laboratory results tell police there is something different about the Pong Su’s heroin.

The Last Voyage of the Pong Su is brought to you by the newsrooms of The Age & Sydney Morning Herald. A new episode of this 10-part series drops on Tuesdays.

If you’re enjoying this series, leave a review on iTunes and recommend us to a friend.

Our supporters power our newsrooms and are critical for the sustainability of news coverage. Click on the links to subscribe to The Age or The Sydney Morning Herald.

Reporter - Richard Baker (Get in touch: rbaker@theage.com.au )
Executive Producer - Rachael Dexter
Narrative Consultant - Kate Cole-Adams
Consulting Producer - Siobhan McHugh
Music & Composition - Vicki Hansen
Sound design & mixing - John Greenfield
Script translations - Yan Zhuang
Assistant Producer - Margaret Gordon
Head of Audio - Tom McKendrick
Actors:
Chin Kwang Lee is played by Andy Song
Kiam Fah Teng is played by Anthony Ting
Yau Kim Lam is played by Jason Chong
Casting - Catapult Casting

Additional audio from: Associated Press, ABC news America and Richard Rogers.

The poem you heard at the start of this episode is called I go down to the shore by Mary Oliver - read by Jason Chong.

Support the show.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You need a lawyer Nov 18, 2019

Show notes

Episode 7. The legal battle begins to save the Pong Su crew and a special relationship builds between a suburban Melbourne solicitor and a mysterious North Korean man who has everyone guessing.

The Last Voyage of the Pong Su is brought to you by the newsrooms of The Age & Sydney Morning Herald. A new episode of this 10-part series drops on Tuesdays.

If you’re enjoying this series, leave a review on iTunes and recommend us to a friend.

Our supporters power our newsrooms and are critical for the sustainability of news coverage. Click on the links to subscribe to The Age or The Sydney Morning Herald.

Reporter - Richard Baker (Get in touch: rbaker@theage.com.au )
Executive Producer - Rachael Dexter
Narrative Consultant - Kate Cole-Adams
Consulting Producer - Siobhan McHugh
Music & Composition - Vicki Hansen
Sound design & mixing - John Greenfield
Script translations - Yan Zhuang
Assistant Producer - Margaret Gordon
Head of Audio - Tom McKendrick
Actors:
Chin Kwang Lee is played by Andy Song
Kiam Fah Teng is played by Anthony Ting
Yau Kim Lam is played by Jason Chong
Casting - Catapult Casting

Additional audio from: Channel Nine, NBC and Asia Brief.

The reading you heard at the start of this episode was an excerpt from Diving into the Wreck by Adrienne Rich - read by Jason Chong.

Support the show.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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