SVU S4 E12 “Risk”
“Wait…go back to that part about how you can rent a baby. How much were they asking?”
Detectives Benson and Stabler are called in when an infant dies after drinking baby formula mixed with cocaine. When more tainted formula is found in the home of Derek Pfeiffer, Fin and Munch suspect he's been smuggling in the liquid coke from Mexico. But things take a turn when IAB takes over the investigation and Pfeiffer is murdered. Cragen strong-arms Tucker to let Elliot go undercover and infiltrate the drug ring. It's managed by a dirty cop, and when a sting goes sideways, Stabler is forced to shoot him in self-defense.
Still looking for the kingpin, Benson and Cragen learn Pfeiffer never had a baby. His wife had been taking her infant nephew to Mexico as a cover to smuggle the formula. Now the kingpin is tying up loose ends by killing Mrs. Pfeiffer and all the other mothers who rented their babies as drug mules.
We're talking about Special Victims Unit season 4 episode 12 "Risk." Our guest is Mel Barrett from the "Something's Off" and "The Inbetween" podcasts.
Some inspiration for this episode comes from the 1992 case of NYPD officer Michael Dowd.
