Watch Criminal Planet

Criminal Planet is a recently released documentary series by Vice that explores the criminal world thriving in various countries around the globe. The show is a deep dive into the grim realities of illegal activities like drug trafficking, human smuggling, and arms dealing, to name a few, and how they contribute to creating an elaborate network of crime and violence on this planet.

The series comprises six episodes, each of approximately one hour-long, that offers viewers an insight into how these illegal networks have become deeply entrenched, what keeps them going, and what law enforcement agencies around the world are doing to put an end to them.

The show's first episode, "The Dark Side of Bali," takes viewers to the Indonesian island of Bali, a popular tourist destination famous for its white sand beaches, dotted with exotic temples and emerald rice paddies. However, the episode takes us into the hidden, criminal underbelly of Bali - one rampant with the dealing and consumption of drugs like cocaine, heroin and methamphetamine, a mecca for tourists seeking illegal substances. Viewers get to meet several people on either side of the law, including drug dealers and smugglers who operate in Bali's neighborhood areas.

"Mexico's Notorious Prison," the second episode of Criminal Planet, takes us inside the high-security prison of Puente Grande, Jalisco, known for being the headquarters of the most notorious drug cartel in Mexico and Latin America. The show provides us with a glimpse of how prisons are run, including what goes on in them, and how criminal networks thrive inside prison walls. Viewers get to understand how the cartels are developed from within the prison and how it becomes the breeding ground for future crime lords.

Next up is "Addicted to Patong," where the show explores the illegal trade of the drug known as Yaba in Patong's party scene in Phuket, Thailand. Yaba is a potent blend of methamphetamine and caffeine used as a party drug. This episode traces the path Yaba takes from the manufacturer to the consumer and the impacts of such substances on individuals, families and communities.

Moving to South Africa, the fourth episode of Criminal Planet is named Guns and Gangs in Cape Town. The episode shows the role firearms play in fueling gang violence in Cape Town. The show looks at the illegal trade of firearms and their links to other criminal activities, including human trafficking and drugs. Viewers get a glimpse into the lives of people who are caught in the crossfire of gun violence and its impact on the residents of the city.

The fifth episode of the show is titled "Incarcerated in Cambodia," which explores the prison system in Cambodia. The episode provides a shocking insight into the harsh prison conditions in the country and how the spread and management of COVID-19 have made them even worse. The show has various candid interviews with the prisoners, and the rules that they must follow to have access to food and shelter, as well as the corruption that emerges as a result.

The last episode of the series is "The Wealth of Cartels," which shows viewers how drug cartels have used laundered money to build a vast accumulation of wealth, power and influence worldwide. The episode reveals how money laundering is conducted through banks and businesses, and how the cartels use legal methods to invest their proceeds into real estate, the stock market, and luxury goods.

Overall, Criminal Planet is a gripping docuseries that offers viewers a window into the shadowy world of illegal activities and the lives of those who survive by thriving in it. It is a show that can open your eyes to the darker side of life on earth. The show leaves viewers wondering if the world will ever be free of these criminal networks and asks what needs to happen to bring peace and security to these areas of the world experiencing heavy crime and violence.

Criminal Planet is a series that ran for 1 seasons (8 episodes) between May 11, 2021 and on Vice