World of Secrets

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Finding Mr Fox: 4. A detective calls Nov 13, 2024

Show notes

A police chief in Brazil investigates Fox. He spends months overseeing surveillance of Fox’s yacht, then months more investigating how more than a tonne of cocaine ended up on board.

For Andre Gonçalves, it begins with a tipoff from Britain’s National Crime Agency. He’s determined to fix what he sees as a grave injustice for the sailors after their arrest and harsh sentencing.

Presenters: Yemisi Adegoke and Colin Freeman Producer: Charlotte McDonald Additional production: Aliaume Leroy, Cristine Kist, Nick Norman-Butler, Chiara Francavilla, Matt Precey, Julian Sturdee and Julio Rodrigues Production Coordinator: Gemma Ashman Actors: Edison Alcaide (Rodrigo) and Antonio Fernandes (Daniel) Sound design: Tom Brignell Executive Producer: Joe Kent Podcast Editor: Matt Willis Commissioning Senior Producer: Kat Collins Commissioning Editor: Jon Manel

Finding Mr Fox: 3. Highway 10 Nov 06, 2024

Show notes

The sailors are imprisoned in a country known as a “motorway service station” for cocaine cartels. Among certain police forces and crime agencies, the shortest sailing route from Latin America to Africa is known as drug traffickers’ Highway 10. Cape Verde lies at one end of it.

The West African nation is used as a handy stop off point for smugglers to refuel or swap boats ahead of their journey on to Europe. For Daniel and Rodrigo though, it was somewhere to enjoy the beaches and the surf. But they can’t do that now they’re locked up in jail.

Colin and Yemesi learn more about the wider destructive impact of drug dealing and the international narcotics market, boarding a police boat as local cops patrol the ocean.

Finding Mr Fox: 2. In the doldrums Oct 30, 2024

Show notes

Daniel and Rodrigo’s dream voyage soon becomes a nightmare. Days into their Atlantic crossing, the boat’s motor stops working, one of their crewmates becomes too sick to get out of bed and cabin fever sets in. They’re forced to make an emergency stop in Cape Verde, the archipelago of islands off the coast of West Africa known for its natural beauty and its beaches. But they don't get the welcome they’re hoping for.

Finding Mr Fox: 1. The adventure of a lifetime Oct 30, 2024

Show notes

Two Brazilian sailors prepare for a transatlantic voyage that will change their fortunes forever in ways they can’t imagine. Daniel and Rodrigo sign up for a life changing opportunity to crew a yacht from Brazil to Europe and gain the experience they both crave. But before they even set off, police and their sniffer dog raid the boat and spend hours searching for cocaine, which they think may have been hidden on board.

Finding Mr Fox: Trailer Oct 29, 2024

Show notes

Sailors, smugglers and millions of dollars of cocaine. A transatlantic trip of a lifetime goes wrong and lives change forever. It’s a journey from Brazil, which ends up in Cape Verde and prison. The question is: where is Fox? The new season is coming soon. Subscribe or follow now, so you get Finding Mr Fox and new episodes of previous seasons automatically.

The Abercrombie Guys: 11. Mike Jeffries under arrest Oct 26, 2024

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"Anyone who thinks they can exploit others by using the so-called casting couch system... prepare to trade that couch for a bed in federal prison."

Prosecutors in New York send a stern message, as The Abercrombie Guys, Mike Jeffries and Matthew Smith, are arrested on charges of sex trafficking and interstate prostitution, along with their alleged fixer Jim Jacobson. They've denied wrongdoing.

Reporter Rianna and producer Ruth head to New York to watch the court proceedings unfold, just a stone's throw from Mike Jeffries' Hamptons mansion.

Al Fayed, Predator at Harrods: 6. The ripple effect Oct 24, 2024

Show notes

Many more women have made allegations of abuse and rape against Mohamed Al Fayed – including Margot, who was hired as his children’s nanny. We hear her story and find out about developments in the investigation since we published the first five episodes. Harrods says it is in the process of settling over 250 claims from women who say they were abused by its former owner.

Shaimaa Khalil speaks to series consultant Keaton Stone, Erica Gornall the director of Al Fayed, Predator at Harrods, and Hannah Price from the BBC News Investigations unit.

This episode contains graphic details of sexual assault, which some listeners may find distressing.

If you’ve been affected by any of the issues in this series, please contact support organisations in your own country. For a list of organisations in the UK that can provide support for survivors of sexual abuse, go to bbc.co.uk/actionline.

This episode was updated on 25 October 2024.

Season 4 of World of Secrets, Al Fayed, Predator at Harrods, is a Long Form Audio production for the BBC World Service.

Presenters: Shaimaa Khalil and Cassie Cornish-Trestrail Producer: Sally Abrahams Senior Producer: Neal Razzell Series Editor: Matt Willis Sound design: Neil Churchill and Nigel Appleton Special thanks to Series Consultant Keaton Stone, Director Erica Gornall, and Executive Producer Mike Radford Commissioning Senior Producer: Anne Dixey Commissioning Editor: Jon Manel

Al Fayed, Predator at Harrods: 5. Silenced no more Sep 19, 2024

Show notes

Mohamed Al Fayed sells Harrods and retreats into a world of luxury villas and yachts. But will the women continue to stay silent about their allegations? Their stories weren’t all heard before his death but now they come together to speak out. Would the past catch up with a man who had now been portrayed in The Crown, the drama about the reign of Queen Elizabeth II?

This season of World of Secrets is about sexual abuse, and includes descriptions which some listeners might find distressing. For a list of organisations in the UK that can provide support for survivors of sexual abuse, go to bbc.co.uk/actionline.

Season 4 of World of Secrets, Al Fayed, Predator at Harrods, is a Long Form Audio production for the BBC World Service.

Al Fayed, Predator at Harrods: 4. Surveillance state Sep 19, 2024

Show notes

Security cameras were everywhere - in Harrods and in a luxury apartment used by staff. There’s an atmosphere of paranoia. Vanity Fair magazine was investigating the rumours swirling around Mohamed Al Fayed. Would the truth about him be exposed, even as potential witnesses say they were intimidated?

Season 4 of World of Secrets, Al Fayed, Predator at Harrods, is a Long Form Audio production for the BBC World Service.

Al Fayed, Predator at Harrods: 3. Paris Sep 19, 2024

Show notes

Work trips to “the city of lights” turn dark, as the extent of Mohamed Al Fayed’s power and control becomes clear. Staying in the historic Villa Windsor in Paris should have been a dream come true, but the women are left terrified.

This season of World of Secrets is about sexual abuse. And this episode contains some of the most graphic descriptions. For a list of organisations in the UK that can provide support for survivors of sexual abuse, go to bbc.co.uk/actionline.

Season 4 of World of Secrets, Al Fayed, Predator at Harrods, is a Long Form Audio production for the BBC World Service.

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