Traffik

S01E06: The Courier

On his return to Britain, Jack is immediately sacked for his extraordinary behaviour in Pakistan. Not only this, but his wife has moved out, and Caroline has run away from the rehabilitation clinic. In Germany, Ulli believes he has trapped Helen and intercepts what he thinks is her heroin shipment. But Helen has double-crossed everyone, and the heroin shipment is actually bound for England. Fazal's wife Sabera has agreed to smuggle heroin for Tariq Bhut in return for a promise that he will secure her husband's release from prison. But some of the heroin leaks during her flight to Britain, and although the shipment is a great success for Helen, it causes Sabera's death.

Overview

Traffik is a 1989 British television serial about the illegal drugs trade. Its three stories are interwoven, with arcs told from the perspectives of Afghan and Pakistani growers and manufacturers, German dealers, and British users. It was nominated for six BAFTA Awards, winning three. It also won an International Emmy Award for best drama.

The 2000 crime drama film Traffic, directed by Steven Soderbergh, was based on this television serial. In turn, the 2004 American television miniseries Traffic was based on both versions.

Episodes

The Farmer

S01E01 The Farmer

June 22, 1989 52 min
In Hamburg, a popular young German businessman is arrested and accused of being a drugs trafficker. His British wife, Helen, is faced with social and financial ruin and decides to take the family's future into...
The Addict

S01E02 The Addict

June 26, 1989 52 min
Jack Lithgow returns to Britain from Pakistan to find that his daughter, Caroline, has been arrested on heroin charges after a student party. Jack confines her to the family home and watches her night and...
The Criminal

S01E03 The Criminal

July 3, 1989 52 min
Kurt, a German casino owner who financed Karl's heroin business, is hounding Helen. When she says she can't return the money he kidnaps one of her children. Desperate, Helen goes to Britain, where she gets...
The Chemist

S01E04 The Chemist

July 10, 1989 52 min
Jack Lithgow is still under heavy pressure from his job at the Home Office, but worse, his daughter takes a drugs overdose and is hospitalised. He books her into an expensive residential clinic to try...
The Politician

S01E05 The Politician

July 17, 1989 52 min
Jack returns to Pakistan to sign the aid agreement. Encouraged by the lawyer Roquia, he presses further, demanding specific arrests before he will sign. His political pressure on the authorities to take more action against...
The Courier

S01E06 The Courier

July 24, 1989 52 min
On his return to Britain, Jack is immediately sacked for his extraordinary behaviour in Pakistan. Not only this, but his wife has moved out, and Caroline has run away from the rehabilitation clinic. In Germany,...

Cast

Bill Paterson
Bill Paterson
John Lithgow
Lindsay Duncan
Lindsay Duncan
Helen Rosshalde
Jamal Shah
Jamal Shah
Fazal
Vincenzo Benestante
Vincenzo Benestante
Domenquez
Talat Hussain
Talat Hussain
Tariq Butt
Juraj Kukura
Juraj Kukura
Karl Rosshalde
Julia Ormond
Julia Ormond
Caroline Lithgow

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