NAT GEO’S TRAFFICKED WITH MARIANA VAN ZELLER RETURNS WITH POWERFUL NEW SEASON

From Emmy Award-Winning Muck Media, New Season Dives Deep Into the Worlds of Cartels, Scams, Militias, Heists, Bride Trafficking, Street Racing and More
 
Now Streaming on Hulu, Season Four of Trafficked Is the Most Nominated Unscripted Series Ever With 29 Nominations for the 2025 News & Documentary Emmy Awards
 
Season Five of TRAFFICKED WITH MARIANA VAN ZELLER Premieres July 19 at 9/8c on National Geographic and Streams Next Day on Hulu

Armed with National Geographic’s trademark inside access, each episode follows van Zeller as she connects with traffickers, militias, scammers, smugglers, and law enforcement across the globe to investigate the inner workings of a multi-trillion-dollar shadow economy. From high-level criminals to frontline victims and government insiders, van Zeller’s reporting offers a 360-degree view of the forces shaping our increasingly interconnected, and blurred, legal and illegal economies. Premiering weekly, the series exposes the human cost of these hidden worlds and why they matter more than ever.

“This season mirrors the times we’re living in,” says van Zeller. “The issues we investigate —from the growing reach of cartels in the United States to the expanding world of scams—don’t happen in isolation. These are societal stories, rooted in desperation, exploitation, and the global forces shaping our future. Hidden stories that ultimately affect us all.”

Episodes include the following:

“Cartel USA” – Premieres July 19 at 9/8c
Mariana explores the growing influence of Mexican cartels in the U.S.

“Scam City” – Premieres July 26 at 9/8c
Mariana travels to Southeast Asia’s epicenter of romance and investment scams, known as “pig butchering.”

“The Tranq Dope Underground” – Premieres August 2 at 9/8c
Mariana investigates the mysterious next wave of America’s opioid crisis.

“Brides for Sale” – Premieres August 9 at 9/8c
Mariana investigates the black-market trade in trafficked brides destined for China.

“Million Dollar Highway Heists” – Premieres August 16 at 9/8c
Mariana investigates the explosive world of heists.

“Inside America’s Militias” – Premieres August 23 at 9/8c
Mariana investigates the growing influence of heavily armed militias.

“The Great American Rehab Scam” – Premieres August 30 at 9/8c
Mariana investigates the dark underworld of fraudulent addiction treatment programs. 

“Black Market Love” – Premieres September 6 at 9/8c
Mariana investigates the global surge in anti-LGBTQ+ violence.

“Underground Street Racing” – Premieres September 13 at 9/8c
Mariana investigates the deadly world of illegal street racing.

“Shark Hunters” – Premieres September 20 at 9/8c
Mariana investigates the underground market for shark fins.

SOURCE: National Geographic