Borderland: Narcosis with Vincent 'Rocco' Vargas

Today’s guest is Jaeson Jones. He is a retired Captain from the Texas Department of Public Safety's Intelligence and Counterterrorism Division, and a recognized expert of Mexican drug cartels and transnational crime. He is also a correspondent for Newsmax. Borderland: Narcosis is an IRONCLAD Original Chapters (00:00) Intro (02:33) Landing the Interview with Secretary Omar Harfuch (05:58) Inside th...

David Holthouse is a journalist, writer, and documentary filmmaker best known for his immersive "gonzo" reporting style and his work infiltrating extremist groups, criminal networks, and other hard-to-access subcultures. His films and series include Narco Mennonites, Sasquatch, The Last Narc, Krishnas: Gurus, Karma, Murder, Night Stalker, and more. Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original Chapters: 00:0...

In this 4-chapter film, Borderland: Narcosis host Vince ‘Rocco’ Vargas looks at four stories from the world of cartels and organized crime: The missing women of Juárez, the rise and fall of MS-13, the strange role that Santa Muerte plays in cartel culture, and how the CJNG infiltrated America’s living rooms with elaborate phone scams. Each of these stories initially ran as part of Borderland’s Rea...

On today’s episode, Vince welcomes back Katarina Szulc, investigative journalist and host of the Ironclad Original, Borderland: Dispatches. Kat shares insights from her recent reporting in Ukraine, where authorities are investigating claims that foreign fighters with cartel ties traveled to the front lines to learn modern combat tactics before returning to Latin America. The conversation also expl...

What started as a routine security check in rural Kentucky unraveled into what might be the largest cattle fraud scheme in U.S. history, and that was just the tip of the iceberg. This compilation brings together the complete, escalating investigation by Borderland into a massive criminal enterprise that the authorities seemingly refuse to touch. Follow security contractor Jon Griggs as he risks ev...

Jon Griggs returns to Borderland: Narcosis for his third appearance, picking up a story that's grown far beyond where it started. What began as a routine assignment to secure a Kentucky cattle farm in 2023 has unraveled into a $4.5 billion money-laundering case with alleged ties to the CJNG cartel and a string of connections Jon never expected to find. Listen to Jon's previous appearances for the...

On today's episode, Vince sits down with Karlo Villalpando, a 10-year veteran of Mexican Customs and former Port Director in Sonoyta, to discuss the recent surrender of Sinaloa's Secretary of Public Safety to the DEA, the SDNY indictment naming Sinaloa state officials allegedly on the cartel's payroll, and what President Claudia Sheinbaum's government is and isn't doing about it. They also cover t...

On this episode of Borderland: Narcosis, Vince Vargas speaks with retired Border Patrol Chief Jason Owens about the risk of the Northern Border, the state of border security, and threats to national security. Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original Sponsors: Watch ‘Pressure’ in theaters starting May 29th. 1st Phorm: Go to⁠ ⁠https://www.1stphorm.com/borderland⁠⁠ and get free shipping on any orders over...

Today's guest is Roger Reaves. He spent more than 30 years prison, having escaped five different times. He was heavily involved in smuggling operations for the Medellín Cartel and Pablo Escobar. Is the author of the book Smuggler: https://www.amazon.com/Smuggler-Mr-Roger-Reaves/dp/0692630538 Borderland: Narcosis is an IRONCLAD Original Sponsors: 1st Phorm: Go to⁠ ⁠https://www.1stphorm.com/borderla...

Cory Gautereaux, founder of the GOAT Initiative, returns to Borderland to discuss what he and his team are seeing on the San Diego border. He covers a recent incident involving three Russian nationals found 10–12 miles inside California, the discarded passports and documents his team continues to recover, the role of contractors along the border, and the disconnect between federal messaging and wh...

On today's episode, Vince welcomes back former DEA Special Agent in Charge Ray Donovan, the man who led the hunt for El Chapo, for a breakdown of where the hunt for Iván goes next, why the Chapitos can't survive the way their father did, and what the U.S. government's new whole-of-government strategy actually looks like from the inside. Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original Chapters: (00:00) Introduc...

On today’s episode, Vince sits down with Hector Berrellez, a former DEA agent and lead investigator on the 1985 murder of agent Kiki Camarena. Berrellez breaks down his role in the case, efforts to secure key witnesses, and the investigative tactics used at the time. He also discusses allegations he uncovered, including claims involving the CIA, along with internal pushback and unresolved question...

On today’s episode, Vince welcomes back Johnny Mitchell, a former multi-million dollar marijuana trafficker turned stand-up comedian and host of the podcast The Connect. They break down who the U.S. may target next inside the cartel hierarchy, the rise of El Chapo’s sons, and how a new generation of leaders—including those with American ties—are changing the game. Check out Johnny's podcast: https...

On today's episode, Vince welcomes back Jorge Ventura to break down his reporting from Tijuana, including concerns over cartel smuggling routes, migrant movement near the U.S. border, and the broader Iranian national security threat. Check out Jorge's Youtube Channel: @Venturareports Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original Chapters: (00:00) Introduction (01:30) Investigation: The Islamic Mosque on the...

On today's episode, Ex-Canadian intelligence officer Scott McGregor breaks down how cartels and the Chinese Communist Party have established networks in Canada, including Vancouver, and the risks they pose to North American security. To purchase Scott's book, The Mosaic Effect: How the Chinese Communist Party Started a Hybrid War in America's Backyard, visit: https://www.amazon.com/Mosaic-Effect-C...

On today's episode, Vince sits down with “Matchmaker,” a U.S. veteran with the Wolverines, a network of operators training on the frontlines in Ukraine. They break down the evolving world of drone warfare—from cheap, commercially available drones turned into deadly weapons to how cartels and other actors are learning these tactics, creating a growing threat to U.S. border security. Borderland is a...

On today’s episode, Vince welcomes back Katarina, host of Borderland: Dispatches, who shares her first-hand reporting from the site of El Mencho’s operation in Mexico. They discuss the evidence she found, the sequence of events, and the aftermath, including how the operation has impacted Mexican authorities, cartel dynamics, and local communities. Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original Chapters: 00:00...

On today's episode, Ed Calderon returns to Borderland: Narcosis to examine the operation that reportedly killed CJNG leader El Mencho. The conversation covers the details of the raid, inconsistencies in the official narrative, cartel responses across Mexico, and potential power shifts inside CJNG. Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original Chapters: (00:00 ) Intro (01:00) Deep Dive: The Raid on El Mencho’...

On today’s episode, Vince welcomes back Samuel Cooper, Canadian journalist, author, and national security expert who has reported extensively on transnational crime, Mexican cartels, and international intelligence operations. They dive into the recent takedown of El Mencho, the rise of cartel influence in Canada, and what these shifts mean for North America’s security landscape. Borderland is an I...

On today’s episode, Vince welcomes back Pierre Rausini to discuss reports surrounding the death of El Mencho, leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG). They discuss what is known about the operation, reported intelligence involvement, and what the leadership change could mean for CJNG and other cartel groups, including the Sinaloa Cartel. Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original Chapters: (00:...

On today's episode, Vince speaks with Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco about cartel activity in Riverside County, including the arrest connected to the family of Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original Chapters: (00:00) Introduction (03:13) Why Riverside County is a Major Hub for Cartels (06:13) First Encounters with Prison Gangs & Ca...

On today’s episode, Vince welcomes back Pierre Rausini to break down a reported U.S. covert strategy, ‘Operation Seattle,’ putting pressure on Mexico’s cartels, political elites, and financial networks. They go inside the complex web of cartel power, money laundering, and U.S. leverage in Latin America. Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original Chapters: (00:00) Introduction (01:41) The Effects of the Ev...

On today's episode, journalist Hels Goethe joins Borderland to discuss reporting from the San Diego–Mexico border, including open corridors, cartel smuggling routes, and footage showing armed men in Mexican military-style uniforms crossing into the U.S., with questions over whether they were Mexican military or CJNG impersonators. They also examine how border intelligence is collected on the groun...

On today’s episode, Vince sits down with investigative journalist Steve Fisher, based in Mexico City, to discuss organized crime and security in Mexico. They examine Fisher’s reporting on a cartel-controlled gold mine in Sonora, U.S.–Mexico security cooperation, recent extraditions, cartel power shifts, and the evolving tactics shaping today’s drug war. Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original Chapters:...

On today’s episode, Vince welcomes back Jon Griggs for an update on the CJNG-linked investigation in Kentucky. Jon shares newly discussed details, including alleged money laundering between $4–$10 billion, U.S.-based shell companies, Florida real estate, and international ties. Reported local payments exceeding $200 million and political connections are also examined. Borderland is an IRONCLAD Ori...