Documentary filmmaker Eric Goode has completed a five-part HBO series examining the global reptile smuggling trade, focusing particularly on criminal operations trafficking exotic animals into the United States. The project represents Goode's latest investigation into complex animal-related narratives, following his previous documentaries on controversial animal subjects. The series traces the illicit trade's evolution from the 1960s to its current manifestation as organized criminal enterprises.

Developing the series required Goode to interview individuals convicted of international animal trafficking, some displaying evidence of involvement in broader criminal activity. His interest in reptiles originated in childhood and eventually led him to establish a conservation organisation protecting endangered species. The filmmaker invested years collaborating with production professionals to document the trafficking networks operating worldwide.