S4·E12 Risk

Episode recap

In the twelfth episode of the fourth season of Law and Order Special Victims Unit, titled Risk, the detectives of the NYPD Special Victims Unit are called to investigate a case involving an infant. The child is hospitalized after ingesting pure cocaine that had been disguised as baby formula. This incident serves as the catalyst for a broader investigation into a complex narcotics ring. As the detectives delve deeper into the circumstances surrounding the poisoning, they uncover that the operation involves a variety of unlikely participants. To dismantle the criminal network and identify those responsible for the distribution of the drugs, the entire squad is required to go undercover. The detectives utilize these covert operations to flush out the individuals involved in the ring. The episode focuses on the squad's efforts to navigate the complexities of this narcotics investigation while addressing the harm caused to the victim. Law and Order Special Victims Unit is a police procedural crime drama series created by Dick Wolf for NBC. The program follows a specially trained squad of detectives who investigate crimes including child abuse and other sexually based offenses. The series stars Mariska Hargitay as Olivia Benson and Christopher Meloni as Elliot Stabler, with Ice-T and Dann Florek also featured as members of the cast. The show is recognized as the first spin-off of the original Law and Order series and is part of a larger television franchise. The investigation into the infant's poisoning highlights the squad's commitment to addressing cases that involve vulnerable victims and criminal activity. By working together to infiltrate the narcotics ring, the detectives aim to bring the perpetrators to justice and prevent further harm. The episode illustrates the procedural nature of the work performed by the unit as they transition from the initial medical emergency to a coordinated undercover operation. Through their collective efforts, the team attempts to resolve the case and address the underlying criminal activity that led to the child's ingestion of the illicit substance.