Telltale Sign That Gave French Spies Away – Rainbow Warrior: A Forgotten History

A new podcast series delves into the shocking 1985 bombing of the Greenpeace ship Rainbow Warrior, revealing how a critical mistake by French spies led to their swift capture.

French spies Dominique Prieur and Alain Mafart, posing as Swiss tourists, were arrested in 1985 after their attempt to sink the Rainbow Warrior in Auckland’s Waitematā Harbour. The attack resulted in the death of photographer Fernando Pereira and sparked an international outcry.

According to the six-part podcast Rainbow Warrior: A Forgotten History, the spies made a crucial mistake that gave them away. Rather than fleeing, they returned their rented campervan to the Newmans depot, which led to their arrest.

Police had already alerted Newmans staff nationwide to watch for the pair, who were using fake Swiss passports under the names Sophie and Alain Turenge. When the spies arrived, 20-year-old clerk Becky Hayter asked them to wait while she checked some paperwork. This delay was the first sign that the trap was closing.

Despite their efforts to maintain their cover, the spies’ behavior raised red flags. Former detective Chris Martin, who was on the scene, noted that the couple showed no signs of affection or concern when confronted by police. “They exhibited none of the signs that a proper couple would have when confronted by a foreign police force,” he said.

When the spies were placed in a motel—bugged by the SIS—they tried to avoid suspicion by speaking only on the balcony. However, this cautious behavior only confirmed the police’s suspicions. “If that sort of thing happens to an innocent couple, they wouldn’t be able to stop talking about it all night,” said Inspector Alan Galbraith, who led the investigation.

Despite their efforts, the pair refused to talk to police. However, Mafart eventually cracked in front of a young officer, Nick Hall, whose memory of the incident remains vivid.

The Rainbow Warrior: A Forgotten History podcast is a true crime series that explores the events leading up to the bombing, the international fallout, and the legacy of the incident. It is available on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and other platforms.