BBC Trending: From a suspected smuggler’s TikTok to tragedy

Loading player...

In January a boat carrying migrants across the Atlantic Ocean to Europe was miraculously rescued by a fishing trawler after two weeks lost at sea. At least 20 people died from starvation, dehydration and hypothermia. Many of those on the boat - Pakistani men - were promised safe, legal routes to Europe by the smugglers but that was far from their reality.

BBC Trending tracks the digital footprint of one of the suspected smugglers wanted for deaths on this very migrant boat. On TikTok, trivial videos depict his lifestyle - one of money, nice restaurants and a lot of travel. But these videos reveal much more about the smuggler’s operations.

Presenter/producer: Reha Kansara and Shruti Menon
Producer: Mohammad Zubair Khan

29 Apr 8PM English United Kingdom Education

Other recent episodes

Heart and Soul: Portugal's Surf Church

In the coastal city of Porto, Portugal, a unique spiritual community is making waves, literally. The Surf Church, led by Brazilian-born pastor and avid surfer Samuel Cianelli dos Anjos, blends traditional Sunday worship with the sport of surfing. In a country with deep historical and cultural ties to the Catholic…

29 May 8PM 29 min

The riddle of Iranian cinema

Iranian-American film-maker Maryam Keshavarz explores a world of creativity under restriction, where film-makers find ways to speak despite censorship. Born in New York City to Iranian parents, Maryam grew up moving between two cultures, smuggling pop culture into Iran for her cousins. That early experience - bridging the gap between…

28 May 8PM 28 min

BBC Trending: Print and shoot - The spread of 3D-printed guns

A growing number of incidents have highlighted the dangers of 3D-printed ‘ghost guns’, untraceable firearms that can be assembled at home with the help of a 3D printer and a set of blueprints. Since the first design appeared in 2013, 3D-printed gun technology has advanced rapidly. Some models can now…

27 May 8PM 21 min

Assignment: Spain - can an algorithm predict murder?

Early on a Sunday morning in February in the Spanish seaside town of Benalmadena, Catalina, a 48-year-old mother of four, was killed at home – the building was set on fire. Her ex-partner was arrested and remains in custody. In January, Lina – as she was known to her family…

26 May 8PM 29 min

In the Studio: Mika Obanda

Mika Obanda is a Kenyan artist who creates vibrant and personal mosaics using egg shells sourced from local hotels. Cleaning, drying and colouring them, before painstakingly placing each individual tiny piece onto his canvases. Frenny Jowi visits him in his studio in the Nairobi slum of Mukuru as he works…

25 May 8PM 28 min

All episodes