Borderland: Narcosis with Vincent 'Rocco' Vargas

On today's episode, Vince speaks with Venezuelan actor and journalist Guillermo Garcia about Venezuela’s political and humanitarian crisis, life under Chávez and Maduro, and the impact of Nicolás Maduro’s capture. Guillermo shares firsthand insight into how the moment is being received by Venezuelans inside and outside the country, along with the broader role of foreign influence and ongoing polit...

On today's episode, Vince Vargas and Ed Calderon break down the recent capture of Nicolás Maduro, the U.S. mission behind it, and the implications for cartels, global powers, and Latin America. Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original Chapters: (00:00) - Introduction (03:00) - Maduro's Capture and the Aftermath (14:00) - Taking a "Ghost Fleet" Ship (16:45) - American's Threats (27:00) - The Venezuelan R...

NOTE: This interview was recorded several days prior to the U.S. operation to oust Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, in which investigative journalist Jorge Ventura predicted would soon happen and possibly set a further precedent for military operations in Mexico.  In a shocking new interview with Vincent "Rocco" Vargas on Borderland: Narcosis, investigative journalist and filmmaker Jorge Ventu...

On today's episode, Vince sits down with Manuel Núñez, founder of Palente Mexico, a cattle exporting company operating in one of the most complex and high-risk agricultural environments in the country. Manuel shares firsthand insight into how extortion operates within Mexico’s cattle industry, including how criminal organizations pressure buyers and producers through illegal payment demands. Borde...

On today’s episode, Vince sits down with former pro MLB player Pete Polis, who ran a drug operation out of his Arizona furniture store while working with members of the Sinaloa Cartel. Today, he runs Seasons Housing, a clean and sober organization that has since helped over 100 men and women transition back into their communities. Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original More from Pete: Facebook: https:...

On today's episode, Vince sits down with Steven Hernandez of The North Group, a national security and intelligence expert. They discuss Venezuela’s role as a hub for threat actors, the presence of sleeper cells in the U.S., and the challenges of tracking multi-state security risks. Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original Sponsors: 1stPhorm Go to⁠ ⁠https://www.1stphorm.com/borderland⁠⁠ and get free ship...

On today's episode, Vince speaks with Nicholas Chase Valencia, a veteran of the Israel Defense Force and U.S. Army and counterterrorism researcher. Nicholas explains how Venezuela serves as a base for Hezbollah and allied networks, its ties to Iran, and why these operations pose a growing security and drug trafficking threat to the United States. To read more about this, visit Nick's substack: htt...

On this bonus episode, former LA kingpin Pierre Rausini lays out his bold plan to dismantle the Sinaloa and CJNG cartels by targeting their most crucial asset: the underground super tunnels beneath the U.S.-Mexico border. He explains why neutralizing these hidden pathways is the key to stopping multi-ton drug shipments and finally gaining the upper hand in the border war. To find out more, visit P...

Today on Borderland: Narcosis, Vince Vargas sits down with investigative journalist Deborah Bonello. She is currently the managing editor at InSight Crime and is the editorial director for Latin America at VICE News. Her book, "NARCAS: The Secret Rise of Women in Latin America's Cartels” is out now: https://www.amazon.com/Narcas-Secret-Women-Americas-Cartels/dp/0807007048 Borderland is an IRONCLAD...

On today's episode, Vince sits down with Rob Dyer, former Marine and CIA paramilitary officer, to uncover a $10B gray-market plant product — a potent kratom derivative called 7-hydroxy (7-OH). This compound comes from the kratom leaf and is chemically enhanced to deliver a stronger, opioid-like effect. They break down the CCP’s potential role, shadowy companies, and legal loopholes fueling this hi...

On today's episode, Vince talks with journalist Ioan Grillo about the targeting of an outspoken Mexican mayor by the CJNG cartel and their police force infiltrations. They discuss how cartel violence and extortion are worsening across Mexico, the risks faced by leaders who speak out, and the growing unrest sparked by these attacks. Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original Sponsors: 1stPhorm Go to⁠ ⁠http...

On today’s episode, Vince sits down with former DEA senior agent Stacy Zinn, who led major anti-cartel operations in Montana, to discuss the growing presence of organized crime in the state and its impact on local communities. Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original Buy Target Intelligence: PSYOP with Shawn Ryan: http://psyopshow.com/ Sponsors: 1stPhorm Go to⁠ ⁠https://www.1stphorm.com/borderland⁠⁠ and...

Former Mexican law enforcement officer Ed Calderón returns to Borderland to break down the next phase of cartel warfare. From CJNG’s weaponized drone swarms to the rise of armed child recruits in rural Mexico, Calderón explains how cartels are evolving into paramilitary forces — and what that means for the U.S. as violence creeps closer to the border. Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original Buy Target...

On today’s episode, Vince sits down with former FBI agent Martin Suarez. For 23 years,  Martin lived undercover inside Colombian cartels. Joined by Ian Frisch, who co-wrote his memoir Inside the Cartel: How an Undercover FBI Agent Smuggled Cocaine, Laundered Cash, and Dismantled a Colombian Narco-Empire, Martin reflects on the psychological toll of undercover work, the art of gaining a cartel’s tr...

On today’s episode, Vince and Katarina address questions submitted by the audience. They examine how communication gaps between Border Patrol, local sheriffs, and state authorities are affecting enforcement, the growing presence of cartel safe houses inside the U.S., and the role of psychological operations in modern conflicts. The conversation also explores claims of cartel members training abroa...

On today's episode, Vince welcomes back border expert Jaeson Jones to explore the evolving security landscape in Mexico. Jaeson shares his firsthand experiences embedding with Mexican forces and details how intelligence-led operations and the integration of the National Guard have contributed to a 32% reduction in homicides under the Scheinbaum administration. They discuss Operation Northern Borde...

On today's episode, Vince sits down with Jordan Goudreau, the former Green Beret and private security contractor behind the infamous Operation Gideon—the 2020 failed coup attempt in Venezuela. Jordan takes us inside the planning, the high-stakes execution, and the moment he realized the mission was unraveling. He also opens up about the legal fallout he’s facing in the U.S., the financial and logi...

On today’s episode, Vince welcomes back Pierre Rausini to uncover how drug trafficking, money laundering, and geopolitics collide. They break down Venezuela’s transformation into a trafficker’s haven, the Cartel de Soles’ shadow role within the Venezuelan state, and how synthetic opioids dominate the market. The conversation digs into the sophisticated financial networks that keep cartels alive, t...

On today’s episode,  Vince welcomes back investigative journalist and host of Borderland: Dispatches, Katarina Szulc, to discuss the latest news around the world of drug cartels and organized crime. They cover recent U.S. military actions in Venezuela, cartel operations in Mexico, and the rise of human trafficking. Katarina shares her reporting experiences, including a story about the trafficking...

On today’s episode, Vince sits down with Johnny Mitchell, comedian, former trafficker, and host of The Connect with Johnny Mitchell, to go inside the world of drug trafficking and organized crime. Johnny shares his firsthand experiences running operations and embedding with cartel members and sicarios, offering rare insight into how these organizations operate daily. They discuss the evolving glob...

On today’s episode, Vince sits down with Wesley Tabor, a former DEA agent and CIA assignee with over two decades of experience tracking transnational criminal networks. Together, they uncover the hidden power of the Cartel de los Soles, a Venezuelan syndicate that operates at the intersection of organized crime and geopolitics. Wesley explains how the cartel’s deep ties to Venezuela’s military and...

On this week’s episode, Vince talks with Stefano Ritondale, a military intelligence veteran and journalist behind @All_Source_News, about the changing landscape of organized crime. The episode covers the fragmentation of the Sinaloa cartel, the impact of Mayo Zambada’s upcoming plea deal, and what it could reveal about political corruption in Mexico and the United States. Stefano also explains how...

On this week’s episode, Vince sits down with Steve Robinson, investigative journalist and executive producer of the documentary High Crimes, to discuss his investigation into illegal marijuana grows in Maine. Robinson reveals how many of these operations are controlled by Chinese organized crime, exploiting loopholes in state cannabis laws and using dangerous pesticides that pose health risks. He...

On this week’s episode, Vince welcomes back Jay Flores, a former cartel operative who worked directly for the Sinaloa Cartel, to break down the organization's current state and its shifting power structure. Drawing from his firsthand experience inside one of the most powerful drug trafficking organizations in the world, Jay discusses internal conflicts, the fallout from recent arrests, and how ple...

On this week’s episode, Vince sits down with political risk analyst Nathaniel Parish Flannery to examine how organized crime and business intersect in Mexico. They discuss the rise of truck hijackings, how cartels influence local economies, and the risks companies face operating in high-conflict areas. Nathaniel also explains why understanding both business and criminal dynamics is key to making s...