World of Secrets – Death in Dubai, Episode 4: "The Right Hand Man"

BBC World Service | October 6, 2025
Host: Renaco Sal

Episode Overview

In this gripping installment of "Death in Dubai," journalist Renaco Sal continues her investigation into the mysterious, tragic death of 23-year-old Ugandan Mona Kizz, whose fatal fall from a Dubai tower went viral and made her the subject of global rumors. This episode, titled "The Right Hand Man," focuses on Renaco’s field reporting inside Dubai as she tries to get closer to Abby—the alleged trafficker at the center of Mona’s world—and features a landmark interview with Troy, a former trusted insider in Abby's network. The episode reveals new details about the mechanics of trafficking in Dubai, the layers of exploitation and control, and the difficulty of seeking justice for its victims.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Entering Dubai and the “Dubai Look”

• [01:13–04:34] Renaco’s undercover preparation: The episode opens with Renaco in a London salon, having her wig styled to embody the “Dubai look,” a necessity to blend in for her undercover reporting. She expresses anxiety about the perception of Black women in Dubai:
  • “I've been warned by other black women who live in Dubai that I might get looked at in a certain way. Men might just assume women like me are available for a price.” (Renaco, 03:19)
• Concerns about safety: Renaco discusses her fears of being denied entry or having her cover blown and underscores how appearance functions as both a shield and a potential target for suspicion.

2. Chasing Leads in Dubai

• [04:35–10:24] Reconstructing Mona's last days:
  • Renaco visits the Warsan building where Mona was last seen. There, she tries to retrace Mona’s steps and contacts possible witnesses, but is met with reluctance and fear from sources.
  • The building is described as a transient hub for African migrants:
    • “This apartment building was supposed to represent a new start for Monica... came here and before long she lost her life. It was a dream unfulfilled for Monica and I can imagine for many girls like her.” (Renaco, 08:51)
• Mapping Mona's movements: Social media tagging puts Mona repeatedly at a glamorous Palm-shaped Dubai resort, a known venue for sex work.

3. The Reality Inside Dubai's Nightlife

• [10:25–13:03] Observing negotiations: Renaco witnesses open solicitation in bars and notes the normalization of such activities, corroborated by candid admissions from staff:
  • “When I ask a waiter what's going on, he laughs and says, 'What you think is happening? That's exactly what it is.'” (Renaco, 09:55)
• Encounters in clubs: Renaco faces aggressive and inappropriate advances, highlighting the exploitative environment:
  • “Unwanted touching, requests for kisses from strangers. It all just makes me wonder. How did Monica feel being here?” (Renaco, 10:54)

4. Firsthand Testimony: “Hope”

• [13:04–18:01] Interview with "Hope":
  • Hope, a sex worker who once worked for Abby, details how she was lured to Dubai under false pretenses of a supermarket job but was forced into sex work within days.
  • “They collected my passport from me... like maybe two days I was put out on the street.” (Hope, 13:49)
  • Abby, she says, operates as a “mafia boss,” dealing in drugs and using spiritual control to terrify women into compliance.
  • “He acts like he's your landlord, but in the actual sense, he is your boss. He's so greedy for money... deals in many, many shit things.” (Hope, 14:37)
• Hope warns other women not to be taken in by glamorous images on social media, stressing the hidden dangers:
  • “These videos you see on TikTok, pictures you see on Instagram, they are not real. There is that dark side. People don't know.” (Hope, 17:16)

5. The Whistleblower Insider: Troy

• [22:46–29:05] Landmark interview with Troy:
  • Troy, former driver and operations manager for Abby, reveals the sophisticated structure of Abby’s trafficking operation, including recruitment via social media and collaboration with contacts in Uganda.
  • “He would use TikTok to see the type of girls he would want to work with in Dubai... Sometimes he communicates with white men and asks them what type of girls they want.” (Troy, 26:04)
• The process:
  • Girls are lured with false promises, then rapidly ensnared—passports taken, debts racked up, subjected to psychological and sometimes spiritual control.
  • “For the first days, he takes them to different malls, to buy them clothings... brainwash them before he sticks them to the business.” (Troy, 28:08)
• Why victims can’t escape:
  • Overstays, lack of money, and psychological stress lock women in:
    • “You can’t go home. You are hunted by the police because you are an overstay... He becomes the dad to them. Their only option is to be with Abby.” (Troy, 29:05)

6. Clientele, Exploitation, and Brutality

• [31:22–32:40] Clients and abuse:
  • Troy says Abby’s clients include “musicians, footballers, presidents” seeking “fantasy” and slave-like sex acts.
  • “I've heard about the types of sex that I've never seen in my life... where a girl is put on ropes, she's put in the cage within the client's room. She's served like a dog.” (Troy, 31:26)
• Efforts to intervene: Troy admits to secretly helping some women escape Abby and left the organization after being discovered.

7. The Deaths of Kayla and Monica

• [34:01–37:27] Uncovering cover-ups:
  • Troy was involved when another Ugandan woman, Kayla, died in similar circumstances to Mona—falling from a high-rise. He describes a swift police closure labeling it suicide, with no real investigation:
    • “It took just like four minutes. The police was around and the investigation started... no one in the police department has ever come to me to ask to give a report about that.” (Troy, 35:11)
• Discrepancies & unanswered questions: The official narrative (suicide, drugs) contradicts autopsy evidence and witness testimony.
• Abby’s protection from justice, Troy says, is enabled by bribery, influence, and perhaps connections abroad.

8. Abby’s UK Connections & Next Steps

• [38:04–38:56] International links:
  • Both Troy and Hope note Abby’s regular trips to the UK and possession of UK credentials, raising the question of possible British jurisdiction and accountability.
  • “Whenever he's flying out for vacations, he goes to the UK. I've seen his UK driving license...” (Troy, 38:12)
• [38:56–39:56] Abby's new base & the hunt for justice:
  • Abby is now based in private villas in Dubai’s Jumeirah Village Circle to avoid scrutiny.
  • The team launches undercover surveillance to identify his whereabouts.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the mechanism of trafficking:
  • “I would refer it to human trafficking because you are selling humans for money. That's why I refer to it as human trafficking.” (Troy, 24:47)
• “Their only option is to be with Abby... They look to him for food, for shelter, for transport. They have no escape route.” (Troy, 29:05)
• “These videos you see on TikTok...are not real. There is that dark side. People don't know.” (Hope, 17:16)
• “He acts like he's your landlord, but in the actual sense, he is your boss. I call him a mafia boss because he deals in many, many shit things.” (Hope, 14:37)
• “He becomes the dad to them. Their only option is to be with Abby. And that's how he runs his business. That's how he controls it. They look to him for food, for shelter, for transport. They have no escape route. They don't have money. He collects every single penny that they work.” (Troy, 29:05)

Timeline and Key Segments

• 01:13–04:34 Renaco’s “Dubai Look,” anxieties about perception and entry
• 04:35–10:24 Retreading Mona’s steps, Warsan apartment, on-the-ground investigation
• 10:25–13:03 Nightlife observations, open solicitation, normalization of sex work
• 13:04–18:01 “Hope’s” testimony: lured, exploited, warnings for others
• 22:46–34:01 Interview with Troy: inside Abby’s network, trafficking details, victim control
• 34:01–37:27 Deaths of Kayla and Monica, police cover-ups, the need for justice
• 38:04–39:56 Abby’s UK connections, surveillance begins, the hunt for justice

Tone and Atmosphere

The episode is intensely investigative and somber, marked by moments of fear, moral reflection, and a raw sense of urgency. Testimonies are wrenching and direct, punctuated by Renaco’s quiet determination and respect for her sources’ vulnerability. The language of both victims and insiders is unfiltered, often harsh and matter-of-fact, drawing listeners deeply into the underworld of Dubai’s trafficking scene.

End of episode summary.