Mariana Van Zeller

Mariana van Zeller is a Portuguese-American investigative journalist and filmmaker recognized for her in-depth reporting on global black markets, organized crime, and underground economies. Van Zeller began her journalism career in Portugal before earning a master's degree from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. Fluent in Portuguese, English, Spanish, Italian, and French, she has reported from six continents, gaining access to regions often inaccessible to mainstream media.

Van Zeller is known as the host and executive producer of National Geographic's documentary series "Trafficked with Mariana van Zeller," which explored the inner workings of global black markets, including drug trafficking, weapons smuggling, human trafficking, and contract killings. The series received multiple Emmy nominations and wins, as well as a Peabody Award nomination. Van Zeller also hosted Travel Channel's "Breaking Borders," where she traveled to conflict zones alongside chef Michael Voltaggio.

Her documentary "The OxyContin Express" earned a Peabody Award, a Television Academy Honor, and an Emmy nomination for its investigation into prescription drug abuse and pill trafficking. Van Zeller's report "Death by Fentanyl" was honored with a DuPont Award for its examination of the opioid crisis, while "Rape on the Reservation" earned her the Livingston Award for Young Journalists. She also produced "Chasing El Chapo," documenting the pursuit of a notorious drug lord in Sinaloa. Van Zeller has appeared on PBS, CNN, ABC, Channel 4 in the UK, and CBC, and is a Gracie Award winner for Best Reporter/Correspondent.

Van Zeller is recognized as an authority on black and gray markets, often referred to as "the hidden third" of the global economy. She launched "The Hidden Third" podcast, a weekly series featuring conversations with individuals involved in underground economies and those working to disrupt them. Van Zeller also founded The Hidden Third, an independent media company dedicated to reporting on the world's hidden economies. Her journalism continues to shed light on the human stories behind complex and often misunderstood global systems.