Underworlds with Mark Shaw

Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime

Welcome to Underworlds with Mark Shaw. Organized Crime is everywhere, hidden in plain sight. The stories from this world have been mythologised by Hollywood. But the reality can be even stranger and more exciting than fiction. From the golden age of the American mafia (La Cosa Nostra), to the modern-day cocaine empires, and from the shadowy links between organized crime and terrorism, to the twilight of the Yakuza. In this series Mark Shaw, the Director of the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime delves into non-fiction books about organized crime and the illicit economy with the authors themselves. He asks questions about their background and investigations, but also the challenges associated in writing about this murky world.

  1. MAX SMEETS: Ransom War | Underworlds with Mark Shaw

    30/07/2025

    MAX SMEETS: Ransom War | Underworlds with Mark Shaw

    Ransomware is a growing threat in our digital world, changing how cybercrime works. In this podcast, Mark talks to Max Smeets, an academic and author, about the rise of ransomware as detailed in his book Ransom War. The book zooms in on the infamous Conti ransomware group, which disbanded in 2022, to show how these cybercriminal organizations operate. The discussion covers the clever tactics ransomware groups use—how they trick their targets but also need to build trust to get paid. It also looks at how these criminal operations have grown from small groups into well-organized businesses focused on making money. Toward the end, Mark and Max talk about what this means for cybersecurity and the global fight against ransomware. This episode gives you a clear look at one of today’s biggest digital security challenges, including cyberattacks, data breaches, and how to protect yourself online. ==================================================== Max Smeets’ book ‘Ransom War’ is available here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ransom-War-Became-National-Security/dp/191172391X An audiobook is also available here: https://amzn.eu/d/1b1PMlX ==================================================== Underworlds with Mark Shaw Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXSX1Xu1kM0ss7EEqXOflp3d-lZw4LfIe ==================================================== 📱 YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@UCP-lqJdhM-9iDKkswuVcXZA 🌎 VISIT US! Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime - https://globalinitiative.net/ 🎧Audio version: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/18f9e732-a770-4e43-a109-c44c9291e581/ 🎧WHY NOT TRY OUR OTHER PODCASTS: 🎧Deep Dive: Exploring Organized Crime - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXSX1Xu1kM0spSX0QUq7j0NmIZOqyDTZQ 🎧The Index - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXSX1Xu1kM0uc_4CftGl8PrwHA3IK5WeI =================================================== FOLLOW US X - @gitoc LinkedIn - @Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime IG - @gi_toc ===================================================

    41 min
  2. MATTHEW CAMPBELL: Dead in the Water | Underworlds with Mark Shaw

    23/07/2025

    MATTHEW CAMPBELL: Dead in the Water | Underworlds with Mark Shaw

    The global shipping industry, vital for international trade, is a hotbed for criminal activities like maritime fraud. In this podcast episode, journalist and author Matthew Campbell, co-author of Dead in the Water, joins Mark to unravel the Brillante Virtuoso case. In 2011, this oil tanker, traveling from Crimea to China, was reportedly attacked by pirates in the Gulf of Aden. However, the vessel’s destruction and subsequent insurance claims exposed a web of deceit. Maritime surveyor Captain David Mockett uncovered inconsistencies in the official story, threatening to reveal a larger conspiracy—ultimately leading to his tragic murder. The episode also explores the insurance industry’s complicity, raising ethical questions about accountability in handling suspicious claims. Listen to uncover the shocking truth behind this maritime fraud case. Timecodes: 0:00 – Intro 01:58.832 - The scale of fraud in the shipping industry 05:48.399 - The Greek shipping industry 08:01.076 - Complicity of shipping insurance industry 11:17.973 - Brillante Virtuoso Story 14:54.102 – The murder of Capt. David Mockett 18:06.475 - Connecting with Cynthia Mockett 20:59.461 - Richard Veale & Michael Conner: The Investigators 24:59.447 - The owner of the Brillante Virtuoso 28:17.523 - Unresolved case 29:44.903 - Building a narrative around such a complex case 35:38.745 - Collaborating with Kit Chellel 38:32.093 - What was left out 41:43.017 - Response to the book 43:26.518 - Response from Lloyds of London 44:35.353 - Next project and thoughts on books like Dead in the Water 48:15.185 - Outro ==================================================== Federico Varese's book ‘Dead in the Water’ is available here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dead-Water-Hijacking-Maritime-Conspiracy/dp/0593329236 An audiobook is also available here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Dead-Water-Murder-Secretive-Industry/dp/B0B5VMXF33/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0 ==================================================== Underworlds with Mark Shaw Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXSX1Xu1kM0ss7EEqXOflp3d-lZw4LfIe ==================================================== 📱 YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@UCP-lqJdhM-9iDKkswuVcXZA 🌎 VISIT US! Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime - https://globalinitiative.net/ 🎧Audio version: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/18f9e732-a770-4e43-a109-c44c9291e581/ 🎧WHY NOT TRY OUR OTHER PODCASTS: 🎧Deep Dive: Exploring Organized Crime - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXSX1Xu1kM0spSX0QUq7j0NmIZOqyDTZQ 🎧The Index - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXSX1Xu1kM0uc_4CftGl8PrwHA3IK5WeI =================================================== FOLLOW US X - @gitoc LinkedIn - @Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime IG - @gi_toc ===================================================

    49 min
  3. FEDERICO VARESE: Russia in Four Criminals | Underworlds with Mark Shaw

    16/07/2025

    FEDERICO VARESE: Russia in Four Criminals | Underworlds with Mark Shaw

    Russia in Four Criminals: Exploring Russian Organized Crime with Federico Varese. Join host Mark in a riveting episode of Underworlds as he interviews renowned academic and author Federico Varese about his book, Russia in Four Criminals. With over 30 years studying global organized crime, Varese offers unparalleled insights into Russian organized crime and its evolution. Russia in Four Criminals profiles four emblematic figures across Russia’s criminal landscape, each tied to a unique decade and social group: mobster Vyacheslav Ivankov, oligarch Boris Berezovsky, incarcerated drug dealer Sergey Savelyev, and cybercriminal Nikita Kuzmin, notorious for creating the infamous Gozi virus, a malware that compromised millions of computers worldwide. Through their stories, Varese maps Russia’s seismic shifts from the Soviet era to the Putin regime, drawing on his first-hand experiences. Mark and Federico also explore the broader study of organized crime in today’s volatile world, shedding light on its global impact. Timecodes: 0:00 - Intro ==================================================== Federico Varese's book ‘Russia in Four Criminals’ is available here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Russia-Four-Criminals-Federico-Varese/dp/1509563601 ==================================================== Underworlds with Mark Shaw Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXSX1Xu1kM0ss7EEqXOflp3d-lZw4LfIe ==================================================== 📱 YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@UCP-lqJdhM-9iDKkswuVcXZA 🌎 VISIT US! Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime - https://globalinitiative.net/ 🎧Audio version: https://player.captivate.fm/episode/18f9e732-a770-4e43-a109-c44c9291e581/ 🎧WHY NOT TRY OUR OTHER PODCASTS: 🎧Deep Dive: Exploring Organized Crime - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXSX1Xu1kM0spSX0QUq7j0NmIZOqyDTZQ 🎧The Index - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXSX1Xu1kM0uc_4CftGl8PrwHA3IK5WeI =================================================== FOLLOW US X - @gitoc LinkedIn - @Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime IG - @gi_toc ===================================================

    51 min
  4. SANNE DE BOER - Mafiopoli: Living Among the ’Ndrangheta – Italy's Most Powerful Crime Organisation | Underworlds with Mark Shaw

    09/07/2025

    SANNE DE BOER - Mafiopoli: Living Among the ’Ndrangheta – Italy's Most Powerful Crime Organisation | Underworlds with Mark Shaw

    Mafiopoli: Uncovering the ’Ndrangheta, Italy’s Most Powerful Mafia. In this episode of Underworlds, host Mark interviews Dutch journalist and author Sanne De Boer about her book, Mafiopoli: Living Among the ’Ndrangheta – Italy’s Most Powerful Crime Organisation. Based in Calabria, home to the rugged Aspromonte Mountains, De Boer reveals the ’Ndrangheta’s rise as Europe’s cocaine trade kingpin, with growing influence in the Netherlands, Belgium, and Germany. Mafiopoli exposes the mafia’s grip on business, politics, and even the Catholic Church, spotlighting the 2007 Duisburg killings that highlighted their violent reach. De Boer discusses Europe’s struggle to counter the ’Ndrangheta, alongside Calabria’s youth-led resistance. She also shares Pope Francis’s bold 2014 condemnation of the mafia as “evil” during his Calabria visit, effectively excommunicating them. Learn about De Boer’s investigative process, diving into Italian court documents while navigating personal safety risks. Listen now to explore the ’Ndrangheta’s power and Calabria’s fightback! Timecodes: 0:00 - Intro 01:53 - What does "Mafiopoli" mean? 03:24 - Encountering the 'Ndrangheta in Calabria 06:00 - The Duisburg Massacre in Germany 09:25 - Quiet growth of the 'Ndrangheta 11:53 - Background to the Duisburg Massacre 14:54 - 'Ndrangheta investments in the Netherlands and Germany 17:03 - European countries unprepared to deal with 'Ndrangheta 21:03 - Talking to Dutch Law Enforcement 23:01 - Petra Reski 25:13 - Infiltration of politics 28:54 - 'Ndrangheta excommunicated by Pope Francis 31:05 - Calabrian resilience to the mafia 33:56 - Threats and Security 36:26 - Writing Mafiopoli 42:09 - Pessimistic or optimistic about the growth of the mafia 43:57 - Next Book & Outro ==================================================== Sanne de Boer's book Mafiopoli: Living Among the ’Ndrangheta – Italy's Most Powerful Crime Organisation is available here. Audible version. ==================================================== Underworlds with Mark Shaw YouTube playlist. ==================================================== 📱 YouTube Channel 🌎 VISIT US! Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime 🎧WHY NOT TRY OUR OTHER PODCASTS: 🎧Deep Dive: Exploring Organized Crime 🎧The Index =================================================== FOLLOW US X - @gitoc LinkedIn - @Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime IG - @gi_toc ===================================================

    45 min
  5. GEOFF WHITE: Rinsed: How the Tech Industry Washes Money for the World's Deadliest Crooks | Underworlds with Mark Shaw

    02/07/2025

    GEOFF WHITE: Rinsed: How the Tech Industry Washes Money for the World's Deadliest Crooks | Underworlds with Mark Shaw

    Rinsed: How Tech Fuels Money Laundering for Cartels and Cybercriminals In this episode of Underworlds, host Mark interviews journalist and author Geoff White about his book, Rinsed: From Cartels to Crypto: How the Tech Industry Washes Money for the World's Deadliest Crooks. Discover how cybercriminals exploit platforms like Axie Infinity, Call of Duty, Backpage, and Tornado Cash to launder illicit funds. White delves into notorious figures like Nigerian influencer Hushpuppi, whose lavish lifestyle collapsed after laundering millions for North Korea’s Lazarus Group, infamous for massive heists like the Bangladesh Bank cyberattack, Axie Infinity hack, and the $1.5 billion Bybit Ethereum heist. With years of expertise in cyber and financial crime, White exposes the tech industry’s blind spots in tackling money laundering. Tune in to explore Rinsed, the Lazarus Group’s global schemes, and the challenges of investigating cybercrime. Timecodes: 0:00 - Intro 01:46 - Background to Geoff's book Rinsed 03:01 - The Intersection of Technology and Money Laundering 05:56 - General Blindness in Tech Industry 08:32 - Tornado Cash, Axie Infinity and North Korean Hackers 12:55 - Backpage, CSAM, Money Laundering 17:25 - Response to the Book from Tech World 19:00 - Resilience of Cryptocurrency & Pro-Crypto US Administration 22:54 - Lack of Ability to Control Illicit Finance 26:18 - The Evolving Threat of North Korean Cybercrime 30:01 - Hushpuppi: Social Media Influencer by Day, Money Launderer by Night 33:33 - The Challenges of Crypto Traceability 37:38 - Challenges of Writing on Money Laundering 40:58 - Characters that Left a Lasting Impact 43:19 - Discovering the Story 46:03 - What's Next? 49:44 - Why Books like Rinsed are still needed 52:11 - Importance of Security 54:11 - Upcoming Projects 54:53 - Outro ==================================================== Geoff White's book ‘Rinsed: From Cartels to Crypto: How the Tech Industry Washes Money for the World's Deadliest Crooks’ is available here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rinsed-Cartels-Crypto-Industry-Deadliest/dp/0241624835 Audible version: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rinsed-Cartels-Crypto-Industry-Deadliest/dp/B0CWJMSTYG/ref=tmm_aud_swatch_0 ==================================================== Underworlds with Mark Shaw Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXSX1Xu1kM0ss7EEqXOflp3d-lZw4LfIe ==================================================== 📱 YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@UCP-lqJdhM-9iDKkswuVcXZA 🌎 VISIT US! Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime - https://globalinitiative.net/ 🎧Audio version: https://link.chtbl.com/7c27X1CM 🎧WHY NOT TRY OUR OTHER PODCASTS: 🎧Deep Dive: Exploring Organized Crime - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXSX1Xu1kM0spSX0QUq7j0NmIZOqyDTZQ 🎧The Index - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXSX1Xu1kM0uc_4CftGl8PrwHA3IK5WeI =================================================== FOLLOW US X - @gitoc LinkedIn - @Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime IG - @gi_toc ===================================================

    55 min
  6. CARYN DOLLEY: Man Alone: Mandela’s top cop – exposing South Africa’s ceaseless sabotage | Underworlds with Mark Shaw

    24/06/2025

    CARYN DOLLEY: Man Alone: Mandela’s top cop – exposing South Africa’s ceaseless sabotage | Underworlds with Mark Shaw

    Man Alone: Mandela’s top cop – exposing South Africa’s ceaseless sabotage In this episode Mark sits down with journalist Caryn Dolley to discuss her latest book, ‘Man Alone: Mandela’s top cop – exposing South Africa’s ceaseless sabotage’. Man Alone follows the career of a remarkable South African police officer called André Lincoln, who passed away in May 2025. He was handpicked during the 1990s by Nelson Mandela, to head a secret unit investigating connections between government officials and organized crime in South Africa. He started with Cosa Nostra, the mafia from Sicily. His long career was marked by controversy, in 2003, Lincoln was convicted of fraud and sacked by the South African Police Service (SAPS), only for the decision to be overturned a few years later after a successful challenge. He always insisted that people within the state, including fellow officers, targeted him in an attempt to scupper his investigations. Lincoln dedicated 39 years to law enforcement, eventually heading the Western Cape Anti-Gang Unit, a unit dedicated to combatting gangsterism in the area. He was accused of not doing enough to prevent the murder of his colleague Charl Kinnear, who was gunned down in 2020, although he vehemently denied this. In May 2025, Major-General André Lincoln passed away, after years of health problems that left him in a wheelchair. Caryn talks about Lincoln’s life but she also speaks candidly about her life as a journalist covering the crime beat in the Western Cape. ==================================================== Caryn Dolley's book ‘Man Alone: Mandela’s top cop – exposing South Africa’s ceaseless sabotage’ is available here: https://www.amazon.com/Man-Alone-Mandelas-exposing-ceaseless-ebook/dp/B0DPZL8ZB1 ==================================================== Underworlds with Mark Shaw Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXSX1Xu1kM0ss7EEqXOflp3d-lZw4LfIe ==================================================== 📱 YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@UCP-lqJdhM-9iDKkswuVcXZA 🌎 VISIT US! Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime - https://globalinitiative.net/ 🎧Audio version: https://link.chtbl.com/7c27X1CM 🎧WHY NOT TRY OUR OTHER PODCASTS: 🎧Deep Dive: Exploring Organized Crime - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXSX1Xu1kM0spSX0QUq7j0NmIZOqyDTZQ 🎧The Index - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXSX1Xu1kM0uc_4CftGl8PrwHA3IK5WeI =================================================== FOLLOW US X - @gitoc LinkedIn - @Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime IG - @gi_toc ===================================================

    59 min
  7. SEASON 2, EPISODE 1 TRAILER

    Season 2! Underworlds with Mark Shaw

    Underworlds with Mark Shaw is returning for another season. Mark sits down with authors to discuss their investigations into the murky world of organized crime. In season two, we hear about a range of stories such as money laundering and cryptocurrency; the 'Ndrangheta's expansion from Calabria, Italy to other countries of Europe. Also the story of a leading South African police officer, who was tasked with investigating the Italian mafia in South Africa by Nelson Mandela. A fascinating story about one of the largest frauds in the history of the maritime industry. The growth and evolution of ransomware market, and finally a history of modern Russia told through the stories of four very different criminals. The series is hosted by Mark Shaw, the Director of the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime. Mark is also an author of a number of books on organized crime in South Africa. ==================================================== 📱 Youtube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@UCP-lqJdhM-9iDKkswuVcXZA 🌎 VISIT US! Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime - https://globalinitiative.net/ 🎧WHY NOT TRY OUR OTHER PODCASTS: 🎧Deep Dive: Exploring Organized Crime - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXSX1Xu1kM0spSX0QUq7j0NmIZOqyDTZQ 🎧The Index - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXSX1Xu1kM0uc_4CftGl8PrwHA3IK5WeI =================================================== FOLLOW US X - @gitoc LinkedIn - @Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime IG - @gi_toc ===================================================

    2 min
  8. Downfall: Prigozhin, Putin and the New Fight for the Future of Russia - Mark Galeotti | Underworlds with Mark Shaw

    28/10/2024

    Downfall: Prigozhin, Putin and the New Fight for the Future of Russia - Mark Galeotti | Underworlds with Mark Shaw

    Russia, the Wagner Group and the Fall of Yevgeny Prigozhin. In this episode, Mark sits down with Professor Mark Galeotti, to discuss his new book, co-authored with Anna Arutunyan, ‘Downfall: Prigozhin, Putin, and the new fight for the future of Russia’. The life of Yevgeny Prigozhin was nothing if not extraordinary. After an earlier stint in prison in Russia, he turned his hands to business, became a catering magnate, then a troll master, and finally the leader of the infamous Wagner PMC (Private Military Contractor). The actions of the Wagner Group in places like Mali, the Central African Republic and other countries in Africa led to it being designated a transnational organized criminal group by the US in early 2023, whilst it was locked in a fierce battle with Ukrainian forces in the city of Bakhmut, Ukraine. At the same time, Prigozhin was involved in a very public war of words with the Russia MoD, particularly with then Minister of Defence and close associate of President Putin, Sergei Shoigu. This spat eventually boiled over and led to Prigozhin’s ill-fated ‘March of Justice’ in 2023 which made it to the very edge of Moscow. This catastrophic decision ultimately led to his death, alongside several other members of the Wagner leadership, in a dramatic plane crash a few months later. In this episode Mark Galeotti sits down with Mark Shaw to talk about Yevgeny Prigozhin, his life and career, his turbulent relationship with certain members of the Russian elite, his posthumous reinvention as the ultimate Russian patriot, where he sits in the arc of Russian history and the future of the Wagner Group without him. ==================================================== Mark Galeotti’s book ‘Downfall: Prigozhin, Putin, and the new fight for the future of Russia’ is available here: https://amzn.eu/d/jiIaqS8 Audible version: https://amzn.eu/d/9Tb9MIE ==================================================== Underworlds with Mark Shaw Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXSX1Xu1kM0ss7EEqXOflp3d-lZw4LfIe ==================================================== 📱 YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@UCP-lqJdhM-9iDKkswuVcXZA 🌎 VISIT US! Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime - https://globalinitiative.net/ 🎧Audio version: https://link.chtbl.com/7c27X1CM 🎧WHY NOT TRY OUR OTHER PODCASTS: 🎧Deep Dive: Exploring Organized Crime - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXSX1Xu1kM0spSX0QUq7j0NmIZOqyDTZQ 🎧The Index - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLXSX1Xu1kM0uc_4CftGl8PrwHA3IK5WeI =================================================== FOLLOW US X - @gitoc LinkedIn - @Global Initiative against Transnational Organized Crime IG - @gi_toc ===================================================

    52 min

Trailers

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About

Welcome to Underworlds with Mark Shaw. Organized Crime is everywhere, hidden in plain sight. The stories from this world have been mythologised by Hollywood. But the reality can be even stranger and more exciting than fiction. From the golden age of the American mafia (La Cosa Nostra), to the modern-day cocaine empires, and from the shadowy links between organized crime and terrorism, to the twilight of the Yakuza. In this series Mark Shaw, the Director of the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime delves into non-fiction books about organized crime and the illicit economy with the authors themselves. He asks questions about their background and investigations, but also the challenges associated in writing about this murky world.