Mariana van Zeller

Some moments, obviously, we're not talking about drugs or scams.

It's actual assassins.

There were moments that weren't so comfortable.

I've been in situations with the cartel several where sort of the Marines are showing up and

trying to see who can save themselves, you know, free for all, where everybody just tries to get out of there as fast as they can.

And when you're with the cartel, there's always a dilemma.

What do I do?

Do I pretend I'm with them and just follow them?

Or do we try to hide if the Marines show up?

It's just always complicated.

What do you do?

What do you decide?

Yeah, we always carry press passes with us.

And in some situations, like in Niger, we also have press things on the side of the trucks that we travel with.

And that's always important, too.

But that, unfortunately, matters less and less in the world we live today.

Is that how you find yourself here?

They teach us what to do if somebody gets shot, how to use a tourniquet.

Yeah, first responders, but also then real scenarios.

They show us videos of situations where there are shootings, but also if you're being followed, what to do to evade surveillance, telecommunications, how to make sure that you're not being listened, how to protect your sources.