14. The Cablecar
Jan 22, 2026 · 32m
Summary
In this episode, the search for OneCoin founder Dr. Ruja Ignatova intensifies after US authorities raise her reward to $5 million and a German documentary claims she was spotted in Cape Town. The hosts consult a professional "disappearing" expert to understand how fugitives evade capture and interview German investigators who confirm the South Africa lead is credible but unproven. They also examine the recent assassination of Bulgarian gangster Krasimir Kamov, assessing whether it is linked to Ruja or local organized crime. Ultimately, the team realizes that chasing false leads is futile an…
Topics discussed
Sponsorship: Prince's Islands and Times Square
New lead: Cape Town, South Africa
US reward increased to $5 million
Ruja on the FBI 10 Most Wanted list
Interview with disappearance expert Frank Ahern
Rules for staying hidden: identity and contact
Disinformation and the limits of surveillance
Why Cape Town is a plausible hiding spot
Interview with INL official on the reward
German police investigator on the search
Connecting the dots: murder and sightings
Clarifying the timing of the reward increase
Kuro's murder and local crime context
The Cape Town lead goes cold
Reflection on six years of false leads
Shifting focus: finding the money, not Ruja
Episode credits and production team
Visiting the Marilyn Monroe exhibition
Sponsorship: Prison party, ASU, and Tea history
Listen ad-free on Castria