Ep 7. The Animals

In Crossing Lines season 1 episode 7, titled "The Animals", the team investigates a notorious animal trafficking ring that is operating in Europe. The episode begins with the discovery of a dead elephant in a park in Paris. The elephant was illegally smuggled into Europe from Africa and had been used for entertainment in a traveling circus. The team discovers that the circus is a front for a larger animal trafficking organization, and they begin a race against time to dismantle the ring and rescue the animals before they are sold to buyers across the continent.

The team splits up to gather evidence and track down leads. Carl Hickman (played by William Fichtner) and Anne-Marie San (played by Moon Dailly) head to the circus to interview the performers and gather information about the organization. Meanwhile, Sebastian Berger (played by Tom Wlaschiha) and Arabela Seeger (played by Gabriella Pession) travel to Rotterdam to intercept the shipment of animals that is on its way to a buyer in Poland. The team is aided by Marco Corazza (played by Richard Flood), an Italian police officer who has been investigating the organization for years.

As the investigation progresses, the team discovers that the animal traffickers are using a variety of methods to transport the animals across borders. Some are smuggled in shipping containers, while others are transported in secret compartments in trucks or taken through back roads. The team manages to intercept some of the shipments, but they are shocked by the conditions in which the animals are being kept. They find tigers crammed into tiny cages, monkeys chained to walls, and bears living in concrete enclosures. The team is determined to rescue the animals and bring the traffickers to justice.

The tension rises as the team races to stop the traffickers from making their final sale. Marco manages to get close to the leader of the organization, a ruthless man known only as "The King", and discovers the location of the sale. The team sets up a sting operation, but their cover is blown when the traffickers realize they are walking into a trap. With tensions high, Carl and the team must think on their feet to prevent the animals from being sold and the traffickers from escaping.

As the episode concludes, the team reflects on their success in dismantling the animal trafficking ring and rescuing the animals. But they also acknowledge that there is still much work to be done to stop the trade entirely. The Animals is a powerful episode of Crossing Lines that raises important issues about animal welfare and the need to combat organized crime. With a talented cast and a gripping storyline, it is sure to keep viewers on the edge of their seats.