Target Number One

Victor Malarek, a Globe and Mail journalist, is pressured to shift to lighter features but stumbles on the case of a Canadian citizen detained in Thailand. He questions Canadian authorities and senses something isn’t right about Léger’s arrest and charges. He brings the case to his editor, Art, hoping to pursue a more thorough investigation.

The film introduces Daniel Léger as a naïve drug addict who becomes involved with Glen Picker. Picker befriends him and offers shelter and work with the aim of setting him up for a payoff from Canadian police. Léger is unwittingly drawn into the Thai drug trade as a pawn in Picker's scheme.

Picker identifies Léger as a key figure in the Thai drug world and uses this to press the idea of a major heroin shipment to Canada. The plan is presented as a big morale-boosting seizure for Canadian narcotics police, who are eager for a win. The cynical setup hinges on convincing the authorities that Léger is dangerous.

Detective Frank Cooper reviews Léger’s file and makes a serious misidentification, treating him as a hardened criminal rather than a victim of circumstances. The error destabilizes the investigation and sets the stage for an undercover operation. The misstep also reflects deeper flaws in the police handling of the case.

Picker arranges a meeting between Léger and Cooper under the pretense that Cooper is a drug smuggler who owes Léger a favor. The ruse is meant to co-opt Léger into working with law enforcement. Léger’s nervousness and vulnerability are exploited as part of the plan.

With Léger nervous about travel and his passport withheld, Canadian authorities arrange a passport, cover his flights, hotels, and expenses, and he travels to Thailand. The state-supported trip is framed as a controlled operation, despite Léger’s reluctance. The journey marks the shift from undercover planning to an in-country operation.

In Thailand, Léger can only locate a Tuk Tuk driver capable of moving two kilos of heroin. The Canadian police green-light the deal, turning Léger into a participant in the operation. The arrangement seems straightforward until the plan starts to unravel.

Léger arrives with Cooper undercover as suppliers arrive separately, leading to a chaotic confrontation. In the crossfire, Detective Cooper accidentally shoots his son Al Cooper. The drug suppliers are arrested, and Léger is captured and imprisoned in Thailand.

Malarek interviews Léger after the arrest, but Léger struggles to understand the Thai trial proceedings. Detective Cooper testifies falsely that Léger is a career criminal. Facing pressure and confusion, Léger pleads guilty and receives a 100-year sentence.

In Canada, Malarek loses his job at The Globe and Mail and his television presence, while his wife leaves him due to the mounting pressure. The newly formed ethics investigation department shows interest in Léger’s case, potentially reopening questions about the conviction. This marks a turning point for Malarek’s career and life.

The ethics investigation department reviews Léger’s case and petitions him to respond, signaling a possible correction of the miscarriage of justice. The process hints that external scrutiny can still impact a wrongful conviction. It gives Malarek renewed urgency to pursue the truth.

After eight years, Léger is released from the Thai prison and begins to rebuild his life, overcoming addiction and studying the Thai judicial system. He secures a prison transfer and reunites briefly with Malarek at the airport. His parents have passed away, but he remains hopeful and turns to Buddhism.

Cooper and his colleagues receive commendations, while the investigation into their handling is watered down. Malarek, meanwhile, returns to investigative journalism, continuing to seek truth and accountability. The film closes on Léger's cautious optimism and Malarek’s ongoing pursuit of justice.