An Inside Look at Hong Kong’s Dark Underworld

In Catching Worms you’ll get an inside look into Hong Kong’s dark underworld of triads, murder, drug smuggling, and the sex industry. 

A timeless, highly produced and well researched true crime podcast, Catching Worms delves into different stories across four seasons.

Season One: The Jars Murderer tells the story of Lam Kor-wan otherwise known as The Hong Kong Butcher, The Rainy Night Killer and The Rainy Night Butcher. It follows the story of one of his first victims - a young woman in the sex industry who was found brutally murdered. The themes in the season look at the influence of pornography on sexual violence and domination, before sinking its teeth into Lam Kor-wan’s backstory, and his obsession with pornography and desire to mutilate the female body. 

Season Two: Braemar Hill covers the story of two British students in Hong Kong in April 1985, who were killed by a group of five individuals associated with a triad. 

Season Three: Operation Clinker explores heroin smuggling and the tale of a major 1988 drugs bust with episodes featuring Hong Kong-born Rod Mason, author of Operation Clinker and his friend Bill Renwick - both worked for the Hong Kong Police as young new recruits when the bust takes place.

Season Four: John MacLennan is told over eight episodes and follows the story of a young Scottish police officer, John MacLennan, who was found in his locked police quarter along with a suicide note in January 1980.

Reported to have shot himself five times, it was revealed he was about to be charged with homosexual acts, which were then still illegal in Hong Kong. 

Produced in a documentary style, Catching Worms is worth a listen. You’ll get an insight into Hong Kong history and life, social values and more. There is very little information available online about this podcast, including about its host, whose identity is never revealed. Her warm, seamless narration (and British accent) draws you in as she moves from narration to in-the-field interviews with detectives and those who describe the events as they play out in Hong Kong’s history.