Gateway: Cocaine, Murder, & Dirty Money in Europe

Innocent people are getting murdered. Lawyers live in safehouses, and a princess is in hiding. This is Europe today—it just might be the world’s next narco-state. Over the past decade, the historic European ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp have turned into global gateways for cocaine. Think Miami in the 1980s — but with even more drugs, and much shittier weather. In this six-part podcast series from Brazen, host Mitchell Prothero explores Europe’s cocaine crisis through the dramatic stories of cartel leaders, cops, journalists, and the victims caught in the middle. From RPG attacks on newspaper offices to the slaughter of entire families, the war on drugs has arrived on Europe’s shores. And a lot of people are making a lot of dirty money. Reporting from Antwerp and Amsterdam, Brazen goes deep inside this crazy under-reported story. Gateway is a Project Brazen production. For more fearless storytelling, search for the Brazen channel on Apple Podcasts or visit brazen.fm, home to all our podcasts, documentaries and newsletters. At Brazen, we show you how the world really works – from espionage and corruption to deal-making and organised crime, we’ll take you inside stories from hidden worlds. Don’t stay in the dark. Subscribe to Brazen+ on Apple Podcasts or at brazen.fm/plus and get exclusive bonus episodes, as well as ad-free listening and early access to new shows. For the latest from Brazen delivered straight to your inbox, subscribe to our newsletters at brazen.fm/newsletters. Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://brazen.fm/plus/

Episodes

Introducing Gateway: Cocaine, Murder, & Dirty Money in Europe

May 24, 2023 • 3 mins

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Reporting True Crime During the Crime: Meet Mitchell Prothero

May 31, 2023 • 15 mins

Gateway host and lead reporter Mitchell Prothero shares the inside story of his new series GATEWAY: Cocaine, Murder, & Dirty Money in Europe. Innocent people are getting murdered. Lawyers live in safehouses, and a princess is in hiding. This is Europe today—it just might be the world’s next narco-state. Over the past decade, the historic European ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp have turned into global gateways for cocaine. Think M...

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Ep 1. The Man For Whom the Underworld Shivers | Ridouan Taghi

June 5, 2023 • 23 mins

After the killing of a billionaire kingpin, one man rises to the top of a new generation of ruthless drug lords running Europe’s cocaine empire. His name is Ridouan Taghi. Taghi’s rise, and his incredible fall, shows the power of cocaine to generate staggering wealth, and shocking violence. This is GATEWAY, a six-part podcast from Project Brazen revealing the rise of a new generation of cocaine kingpins in Europe. Gateway is a ...

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Ep 2. The Belly, the Boss of Bosses | Noffel Fassih

June 12, 2023 • 23 mins

While Ridouan Taghi grows his empire, Noffel Fassih, aka The Belly, does his dirty work as a global hitman. But two botched killings threaten to bring his operations to an end. Meanwhile, Taghi finds a new home where authorities are more likely to turn a blind eye… he moves to Dubai. This is GATEWAY, a six-part podcast from Project Brazen revealing the rise of a new generation of cocaine kingpins in Europe. Gateway is a Project...

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Ep 3. Bomb, Bomb, Bomberoni | Martin Kok

June 19, 2023 • 18 mins

A twice-convicted murderer, Martin Kok is also one of The Netherland’s most popular crime bloggers. But he goes too far when he publishes Ridouan Taghi’s name. Soon, Taghi’s violence begins to spread far beyond the underworld. This is GATEWAY: Cocaine, Murder, & Dirty Money in Europe, a six-part podcast from Project Brazen revealing the rise of a new generation of cocaine kingpins in Europe. Gateway is a Project Brazen producti...

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Ep 4. The Crown Witness | Nabil B

June 26, 2023 • 19 mins

After a killing goes horribly wrong, Nabil B, one of Ridouan Taghi’s close associates, finds himself torn between family and Taghi. Fearing for his life, Nabil B makes a fateful choice. He walks into a Dutch police station and unspools Taghi’s secrets. Another mistaken killing leads to Taghi’s arrest in Dubai and he ends up where he began so many years before—in The Netherlands. He becomes the star defendant in the largest criminal...

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Ep 5. On Bended Knee is No Way to be Free | Peter R De Vries

July 3, 2023 • 20 mins

Dutch TV journalist Peter R De Vries is famous for cracking the criminal cases that no one else can. But with Ridouan Taghi, Peter meets his match. When Peter joins crown witness Nabil B’s legal team, he crosses a line that Taghi can’t accept. This is GATEWAY, a six-part podcast from Project Brazen revealing the rise of a new generation of cocaine kingpins in Europe. Gateway is a Project Brazen production. Subscribe to Brazen+ ...

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Ep 6. Into the Bunker | Europe

July 10, 2023 • 19 mins

Gateway host Mitchell Prothero visits “The Bunker” where Taghi is the star defendant in the largest criminal trial in Dutch history. As Taghi faces justice, his impact spreads far beyond the courtroom. Who will be the next kingpin to replace him? This is GATEWAY, a six-part podcast from Project Brazen revealing the rise of a new generation of cocaine kingpins in Europe. Gateway is a Project Brazen production. Subscribe to Braze...

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Ridouan Taghi Gets Life: An Update From The Marengo Trial

March 8, 2024 • 36 mins

It’s been a couple of months since the last episode of Gateway: Cocaine, Murders & Dirty Money in Europe, but business is busy as ever in the world of global drug trafficking. This week, we wanted to share an important update with fans of the series: Ridouan Taghi has been sentenced. If you listened to Gateway, you’ll know Taghi rose to become a ruthless ruler of the underworld. But in February 2024, the cocaine kingpin was final...

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