Inside the story that rocked Europe’s 'Golden Passport' program.

The European Union has launched infringement procedures following an explosive report from Al Jazeera’s Investigative Unit. In a daring undercover operation, our team posed as representatives of a fictional, Chinese criminal looking to buy his way into Cyprus. What we discovered enraged citizens, forced powerful politicians to step down and left the government in Cyprus with no choice but to abolish its passport for investment scheme.

Inside the story that rocked Europe’s 'Golden Passport' program.The European Union has launched infringement procedures following an explosive report from Al Jazeera’s Investigative Unit. In a daring undercover operation, our team posed as representatives of a fictional, Chinese criminal looking to buy his way into Cyprus. What we discovered enraged citizens, forced powerful politicians to step down and left the government in Cyprus with no choice but to abolish its passport for investment scheme.

International undercover operations. Informants. Hidden camera tape. It all comes together in Al Jazeera Investigates, where we take you inside the network's biggest stories.

International undercover operations. Informants. Hidden camera tape. It all comes together in Al Jazeera Investigates, where we take you inside the network's biggest stories.

Al Jazeera Investigates

Al Jazeera Investigates is a documentary podcast series created by the award-winning AJ I-Unit. The show takes the listener inside ground-breaking investigations that expose wrongdoing, affect policy, and hold power to account all over the world.

Host Kevin Hirten and the team provide extraordinary access to people and places that most journalists never reach – giving inside accounts of undercover operations and revealing secret recordings of clandestine meetings with corrupt leaders, con artists, and criminals.

Al Jazeera Investigates is a documentary podcast series created by the award-winning AJ I-Unit. The show takes the listener inside ground-breaking investigations that expose wrongdoing, affect policy, and hold power to account all over the world.
Host Kevin Hirten and the team provide extraordinary access to people and places that most journalists never reach – giving inside accounts of undercover operations and revealing secret recordings of clandestine meetings with corrupt leaders, con artists, and criminals.

Al Jazeera Investigates - Disco

The Cyprus Papers Undercover: The Aftermath 

In the shadows of the UN’s climate conference, our undercover reporters, posing as criminals from Hong Kong, arrange a meeting with Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa. There’s a billion-dollar plan on the table to turn Victoria Falls into a mega-casino on the scale of Las Vegas and Macau.

Episode Credits:
This episode was written and produced by Kevin Hirten with help from Amy Walters. Alexander James and Sarah Yeo are the lead investigators of this series.
Craig Pennington is our sound designer. Clean Cuts does the final sound mix. Eric Samothrakis composed our theme song. Our engagement producer is Hasan Rrahmani. Peter Charley is the show’s Executive Producer, Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s Head of Audio and Phil Rees is Al Jazeera’s Director of Investigative Journalism.


Connect with us:@ajiunit on Twitter

In the shadows of the UN’s climate conference, our undercover reporters, posing as criminals from Hong Kong, arrange a meeting with Zimbabwe’s President Emmerson Mnangagwa. There’s a billion-dollar plan on the table to turn Victoria Falls into a mega-casino on the scale of Las Vegas and Macau.
Episode Credits: This episode was written and produced by Kevin Hirten with help from Amy Walters. Alexander James and Sarah Yeo are the lead investigators of this series. Craig Pennington is our sound designer. Clean Cuts does the final sound mix. Eric Samothrakis composed our theme song. Our engagement producer is Hasan Rrahmani. Peter Charley is the show’s Executive Producer, Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s Head of Audio and Phil Rees is Al Jazeera’s Director of Investigative Journalism.
 Connect with us: <a href="https://twitter.com/AJIunit">@ajiunit</a> on Twitter

Gold Mafia: Ep. 6 - The Crocodile

The stakes continue to rise as the AJ I-Unit gets closer to the center of power. Our undercover team meets one of Zimbabwe’s most powerful diplomats who offers to help launder a billion dollars on our behalf. With buy-in at the highest levels of government, it’s clear nothing is off the table. 

Episode Credits:
This episode was written and produced by Kevin Hirten with help from Amy Walters. Alexander James and Sarah Yeo are the lead investigators of this series.
Craig Pennington is our sound designer. Clean Cuts does the final sound mix. Eric Samothrakis composed our theme song. Our engagement producer is Hasan Rrahmani. Peter Charley is the show’s Executive Producer, Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s Head of Audio and Phil Rees is Al Jazeera’s Director of Investigative Journalism.


Connect with us:@ajiunit on Twitter

The stakes continue to rise as the AJ I-Unit gets closer to the center of power. Our undercover team meets one of Zimbabwe’s most powerful diplomats who offers to help launder a billion dollars on our behalf. With buy-in at the highest levels of government, it’s clear nothing is off the table. 
Episode Credits: This episode was written and produced by Kevin Hirten with help from Amy Walters. Alexander James and Sarah Yeo are the lead investigators of this series. Craig Pennington is our sound designer. Clean Cuts does the final sound mix. Eric Samothrakis composed our theme song. Our engagement producer is Hasan Rrahmani. Peter Charley is the show’s Executive Producer, Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s Head of Audio and Phil Rees is Al Jazeera’s Director of Investigative Journalism.
 Connect with us: <a href="https://twitter.com/AJIunit">@ajiunit</a> on Twitter

Gold Mafia: Ep. 5 - Executive Power

When it comes to laundering illicit funds through the gold trade, all roads seem to lead to Dubai. The AJ I-Unit gains access to the city’s famed Gold Tower where we learn how traders disguise the true origin of smuggled gold and dirty money. 

Episode Credits:
This episode was written and produced by Kevin Hirten with help from Amy Walters. Alexander James and Sarah Yeo are the lead investigators of this series. 
Craig Pennington is our sound designer. Clean Cuts does the final sound mix. Eric Samothrakis composed our theme song. Our engagement producer is Hasan Rrahmani. Peter Charley is the show’s Executive Producer, Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s Head of Audio and Phil Rees is Al Jazeera’s Director of Investigative Journalism.


Connect with us:@ajiunit on Twitter

When it comes to laundering illicit funds through the gold trade, all roads seem to lead to Dubai. The AJ I-Unit gains access to the city’s famed Gold Tower where we learn how traders disguise the true origin of smuggled gold and dirty money. 
Episode Credits: This episode was written and produced by Kevin Hirten with help from Amy Walters. Alexander James and Sarah Yeo are the lead investigators of this series. Craig Pennington is our sound designer. Clean Cuts does the final sound mix. Eric Samothrakis composed our theme song. Our engagement producer is Hasan Rrahmani. Peter Charley is the show’s Executive Producer, Ney Alvarez is Al Jazeera’s Head of Audio and Phil Rees is Al Jazeera’s Director of Investigative Journalism.
 Connect with us: <a href="https://twitter.com/AJIunit">@ajiunit</a> on Twitter

The Cyprus Papers Undercover: The Aftermath

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