Complicit

Edward Ekubo, a case officer for MI5, begins surveilling Waleed Ahmed as a suspected terrorist in the UK. His supervisors are skeptical because evidence is thin, and Ekubo feels his race and background hinder his career prospects. He worries that his instincts are being ignored while he pushes to prove Ahmed's threat.

A hidden camera shows Ahmed telling a colleague he's attending his cousin's wedding in Yemen. Ekubo's informants, however, point out a feud between the cousins, casting doubt on the Yemen trip as a legitimate alibi. The discrepancy fuels Ekubo's belief that Ahmed is not telling the truth.

Ekubo manages to persuade his superiors that Ahmed represents a genuine threat, despite prior doubts. MI6 agrees to widen the probe and arrange follow-up surveillance in Yemen. The decision marks a turning point as Ekubo gains momentum in his case.

Ahmed eludes the Yemeni surveillance team, prompting Ekubo to hypothesize that he may be heading to Cairo to connect with a ricin contact. The possibility raises the stakes as the search expands beyond the UK. Ekubo's instincts push the case toward a new geographic focus.

Shortly after the shift toward Cairo, Egyptian police arrest Ahmed along with several others at a farm growing castor plants, the source of ricin seeds. The arrest suggests an active operational network behind the alleged plot. The British team learns of the arrests through liaison channels.

Ekubo flies to Cairo and meets MI6 officer Tony Coveney to discuss the arrests and their implications. The detained suspects claim torture and abusive interrogation, casting doubt on the evidence. The visit marks a crucial step in coordinating an international response.

British officers question Ahmed. He claims abuse and mistreatment. Under UK guidelines, the team must report his allegations to the government, delaying decisive action. The atmosphere grows tense as evidence becomes tangled with allegations.

Ekubo asks a colleague to identify the Egyptian interrogating officer, Colonel Hazem Ashraf. The colonel is rumored to be able to influence outcomes, though his methods are controversial. The pursuit of Hazem becomes a key subplot in the case.

Hazem Ashraf proposes to use his persuasive techniques to obtain the UK address where Ahmed may have sent ricin. He provides Ekubo with an address in Derby, claiming it could unlock the trail. The plan appears to cross legal lines, prompting cautious skepticism.

Ekubo visits the farm and discovers three aerosol cans the police missed. Coveney arranges for the cans to be sent to London for chemical analysis. The discovery adds a tangible, if incomplete, thread to the ricin investigation.

Back in London, Ekubo challenges Ahmed directly. Ahmed maintains his innocence and hints that the intercepted emails refer to bedsheets, not ricin. The confrontation underscores the fragility of the case and the potential spread of misinformation.

Ekubo contacts Hazem and meets him at a coffeehouse, receiving a Derby address. The address proves false, but one aerosol can tests positive for ricin, leaving the investigation with a troubling lead. The discrepancy raises questions about the credibility of the information he was given.

A blogger in Egypt photographs Ekubo's coffeehouse meeting with Hazem, and the story is about to go public. The exposure threatens Ekubo's reputation and career prospects. He is soon summoned to the head of Section G for consequences.

Ekubo is suspended with immediate effect as the inquiry unfolds. He must reconsider his career prospects while Ahmed and his lawyer prepare a lawsuit against the British government. The outcome remains unclear as the ricin threat lingers.

Ahmed and his lawyer announce a lawsuit against the British government, signaling a formal challenge to state surveillance. Ekubo watches from the sidelines as the film closes, wondering whether the ricin threat is truly present in the UK. The case ends with ambiguity about the danger and accountability.