The Case Begins

Two years after their first major case together, LAPD sergeants Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh found themselves once again pulled into a dangerous investigation. This time, they were in pursuit of suspects linked to illegal narcotics. The initial assumption pointed to a routine drug trafficking ring, but the discovery of South African Krugerrand coins hidden in the cargo revealed something far more complex. The suspects had been smuggling gold—specifically, currency tied to the apartheid government of South Africa.

Unbeknownst to the sergeants, this loss of the Krugerrand shipment would set off a chain of retaliation. Within diplomatic circles, consul-general Arjen Rudd and his enforcer, Pieter Vorstedt, debated the incident. Hans, the operative who had mishandled the shipment, was swiftly executed to contain the fallout. Fearing further scrutiny, Vorstedt suggested a direct approach to divert police attention: intimidate Murtaugh. That same night, Murtaugh’s home was invaded, placing his family in immediate danger. Concerned for their safety, Captain Murphy reassigned both detectives. Their new duty was the protection of a federal witness named Leo Getz.

A Tangled Web

Leo Getz proved to be more than just a witness. Annoying, fast-talking, and in constant motion, Leo also held vital knowledge. After surviving an assassination attempt, Leo began to open up. He admitted his prior involvement in laundering money for international drug smugglers. The new information linked him to the very same group Riggs and Murtaugh had been chasing before their reassignment.

Leo’s knowledge proved invaluable. He led the detectives to the location of his would-be killers. During the attempted takedown, Rudd appeared at the scene and invoked diplomatic immunity on behalf of his compatriots. This legal shield left the LAPD unable to act, despite strong suspicions of criminal involvement. Riggs and Murtaugh were ordered to stand down.

Rebellion and Romance

Defying orders, Riggs intensified his pressure campaign against Rudd. His tactics became bold and unorthodox, bordering on harassment. During his efforts, Riggs encountered Rika van den Haas, Rudd’s personal secretary. She was an Afrikaner disillusioned by her government’s policies and repulsed by Rudd’s ideology. A quiet relationship developed between her and Riggs, providing him both emotional solace and inside knowledge.

Meanwhile, Murtaugh took a subtler route. With Leo’s assistance, he staged a scene at the South African consulate, drawing public attention and gaining support from anti-apartheid protesters. Tensions escalated on both sides. In response, Vorstedt was tasked with neutralizing all remaining threats. Several LAPD officers linked to the investigation were quietly eliminated. The message was clear: the case was no longer safe to pursue.

Retaliation and Loss

Back at Murtaugh’s home, two assassins launched an attack. Murtaugh managed to fend them off using a nail gun from a home renovation project. Though he survived, Leo was captured during the chaos. At the same time, Vorstedt made his move on Riggs. The ambush occurred at Rika’s apartment, where Riggs had taken refuge.

It was during this encounter that Riggs was delivered a personal blow. Vorstedt revealed that years earlier, it had been he who orchestrated the death of Riggs’s wife. The assassination had been intended for Riggs himself, but a tragic miscalculation had claimed an innocent life. Vorstedt compounded the loss by ordering Rika’s execution. She was drowned before Riggs’s eyes. Riggs was then targeted for the same fate. He managed to escape, killing his captors with cold precision.

Driven by grief and fury, Riggs contacted Murtaugh. Vowing revenge for the murders of his wife, Rika, and fellow officers, Riggs declared his intention to bring Rudd down. Murtaugh, no longer concerned with protocol or orders, agreed to assist him. The two destroyed Rudd’s residence in an explosive act of defiance and began preparations for a final assault.

Final Confrontation

Their destination was the Port of Los Angeles, where Rudd’s freighter, the Alba Varden, was being loaded. Intelligence indicated that the vessel carried hundreds of millions in laundered drug money, destined for Cape Town. As Riggs and Murtaugh arrived at the docks, they discovered a guarded shipping container. Inside, they found stacks of South African currency. Before they could act, Rudd’s men locked them in.

The pair managed to escape, dumping a portion of the illicit funds into the harbor. Their breakout led directly to a firefight aboard the Alba Varden. Amid the chaos, Riggs and Murtaugh separated to find Rudd and Vorstedt.

Riggs located Vorstedt. The confrontation was violent and personal. The two men fought hand-to-hand until Riggs gained the upper hand. Using Vorstedt’s own knife, Riggs delivered a fatal blow and crushed him beneath a shipping container. As he emerged from the battle, Riggs was shot multiple times in the back by Rudd.

Rudd, confident in his legal immunity, confronted Murtaugh. He displayed his credentials, believing they would protect him once again. Murtaugh, unmoved, responded with a single bullet. Rudd was killed instantly. “Diplomatic immunity revoked,” Murtaugh stated, ending the matter.

Aftermath

Riggs, wounded but conscious, was helped by Murtaugh. As the sound of approaching sirens filled the air, the two partners exchanged a pained but knowing laugh. Reinforcements arrived as the sun began to rise over the harbor. The case had come to an end—but at great personal cost.

Though the operation had taken them beyond the law, Riggs and Murtaugh had once again dismantled an international criminal network. What began as an investigation into smuggled currency had led to a reckoning of past traumas and a final stand against corruption protected by diplomacy. In confronting their enemies, they had reaffirmed their bond—and ensured that justice, even when denied by the system, would still be served.