THE COST OF UNDERCOVER - Jason Somerville Former Queensland Police Officer 12 June 2026

What happens when pretending to be someone else becomes your everyday reality?In this gripping and deeply personal conversation, Cheralyn Darcey speaks with former undercover police operative Jason Somerville about the hidden world behind covert policing and the personal cost that often goes unseen.During the 1990s, Jason infiltrated Brisbane's drug underworld, living under a false identity for years as he worked to bring dangerous criminals to justice. But while the operation was a success, the psychological impact of living a double life proved far more complex. How do you switch off when your job is built on deception? How do you reconnect with family, friends and even yourself after spending years becoming someone else?Jason shares the realities of undercover work, the emotional and mental challenges, the sacrifices made behind the scenes and the lasting effects that can follow long after an operation ends.It's a rare and powerful insight into a side of policing few people ever get to see.🎧 Listen now and catch up on this fascinating conversation from The Nightline with Cheralyn Darcey.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.