- Interpol are called in when a man is killed in a car accident. At first they think an international thief has been killed, till they discover the same man died in a gun fight in a completely different country 3 months before.
- A sailor is knocked down and killed in New York, where his papers show him to be a criminal known to be dead. When his true identity - a refugee last seen at a camp in Austria - is established, Duval suspects a people-trafficking ring may be at work. Anxious to expose the gang's methods, he enlists the help of an undercover detective to act as bait.
- A merchant seaman disembarks in New York and has passed through immigration control when he is called back "Hey you, sailor" - he had merely left a pair of gloves on the desk; instead, he panics and flees through a warehouse, running in front of a lorry, and is knocked down and killed.
Examining the body in the mortuary, Captain Tully (Cec Linder) of Immigration is told the police are quite satisfied the man is dead - he was wanted criminal Jason Tasker. Tully, though, examines Tasker's file and notes the last entry: Tasker was killed in Hamburg two months earlier.
At Interpol in Paris, Inspector Mornay (Edwin Richfield) checks the records on Tasker, confirming he had been shot and killed in Hamburg. Who, then, was the man in New York with Tasker's passport, queries Inspector Duval (Charles Korvin). Noticing a curious tattoo on the man's arm in a photograph of the body, closer examination reveals it to be a disguised concentration camp number.
Checking records, the man's true identity is discovered: Jacob Szarek, from Hungary who had been registered at a refugee camp in Austria the previous month, but then disappeared two weeks ago. Checking their files, Duval and Mornay see that a significant number of other refugees had gone missing from the same camp, with Szarek the first to have been heard of again, and wonder if there is any connection.
Duval and Inspector Krantz (Arnold Diamond) of the Austrian police visit the camp, and see the director, Dorner (Gerard Heinz). He appreciates their concern, but points out the camp is not a prison and the refugees can easily come and go. Krantz points out it is more serious than that, as the they then seem to go missing completely; also, Szarek was known to have valuables on him when he arrived at the camp, but was found penniless in New York. Dorner, though, is sympathetic to refugees attempting to leave, even by illegal means, and would not want to see them punished; Duval explains it is the people traffickers, preying on them, he is after.
Back in Krantz's office, Duval suggests planting a refugee in the camp, who would make it clear he was prepared to buy his freedom at any price. Krantz sees the likely response of any traffickers, and suggests one of his detectives, Muller (Leonard Sachs), who is new to the area and therefore unknown. "We are going shark fishing," says Duval, "we want you for bait".
Muller, now at the camp, enters the director's office and, speaking to his secretary, Anna Grauber (Colette Wilde),demands to see the director to complain about the food. The secretary refuses, already well aware of Muller's complaints. Prepared to pay for better food, Anna replies "In this camp there are no special privileges." "Then get me out of here" responds Muller, "I cant live like this."
Krantz and Duval are discussing Muller's progress, how he and his money have become unpopular throughout the camp, when they receive a telephone call from Dorner - Muller has gone missing. Shown his accommodation at the camp, Dorner points out all his belongings have gone - all except one, as Duval finds Muller's false hearing aid, containing a secret tape recorder. Listening, they hear Muller making a deal with the director's secretary to buy his way out of the camp.
Krantz and Duval wait at the camp for the secretary to leave, having arranged for Dorner to tell her Muller has been arrested they expect her to check on him. Seeing her leave and drive off, they follow.
In a room belonging to the traffickers, Muller is making a deal selling jewellery for a fraction of its value to Emile for a new passport, and to Creedy (George Margo), a seaman, for his passage. Having arranged a rendezvous with Muller later that evening Creedy leaves, and Muller is being given some new clothes when Anna enters. Initially thinking Muller had escaped from the police, she quickly realises he was working with the police; Emile draws a gun but Muller, knocking the light, gives Duval and Krantz the opportunity to enter and overpower Emile and Anna. Hearing of the rendezvous with Creedy, Krantz's first thought is to have him arrested but Duval suggests having Muller go through with his passage and find the American end of the organisation.
Muller is taken on board a merchant ship by Creedy, and then in New York taken into the Marston Employment Agency. In his office, Marston (Robert Arden) explains the agreement: he will find Muller work "And for that we charge a small percentage. Fifty percent to be exact." While there Carter (Philo Hauser), another of Marston's employees enters to pay his share before Muller, agreeing to the terms, is taken by Creedy to be lodged in a Hotel.
From his room Muller telephones Duval, now in New York with Captain Tully, informing them of Marston and also describing Carter, probably another missing refugee. Creedy returns and just hears Muller hanging up; suspicious, he asks for the call to be reconnected. Put through to the Immigration Service, he beats Muller on the head, leaving him for dead.
Tully is ready to have Marston arrested, but Duval decides to obtain further evidence. With a description of Carter compared against missing refugees, the man's true identity and photograph are obtained. Circulated to the police, Carter is soon traced to a small workshop but refuses to cooperate, claiming not to know Marston. When news is brought that Muller has died in hospital, Duval takes Carter there and shows him the body. Explaining that Muller himself had been a refugee in the past, and wanted to help others like him who were being exploited, Carter breaks down and agrees to testify against Marston. Later, in Tully's office, Duval is told that Marston and Creedy have been arrested for murder.
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