Welcome to the premiere of Border Static, where host Sal Martinez strips away the Hollywood dramatization of law enforcement to provide a raw, first-hand account of life on both sides of the law. With a career spanning 15 years as a "crime fighter," Sal's journey has taken him from the dusty highways of Texas to the dangerous streets of Ciudad Juárez.
In this introductory episode, Sal shares the "chapters" of his life, including:
The Early Years: Growing up in the "sister cities" of El Paso and Juárez during the escalation of the drug trade.
Texas State Trooper: His five-year career with the Department of Public Safety, dealing with high-speed chases, small-town law, and the emotional toll of fatal accidents.
DEA Special Agent: Going undercover in the style of Miami Vice—but in reality—seizing tons of narcotics and navigating the "untouchable" world of kingpins like Amado Carrillo Fuentes.
The Transition: From putting people in jail to getting them out as a bail bondsman, and eventually sharing his story through his book, NARC: Convictions of an Undercover Agent.
Sal also tackles the modern realities of law enforcement, the dangers of "micromanaging" officers through constant recording, and the critical importance of situational awareness in an increasingly unpredictable society.
Border Static: NARC Agent Stories is a weekly true-crime series that takes you inside the most dangerous undercover operations in modern DEA history—told by the man who lived them.
Hosted by Sal Martinez, former Texas DPS State Trooper and DEA Special Agent, each 26-minute episode delivers raw, firsthand accounts from his years working deep undercover in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico during the height of the Juárez Cartel's reign in the 1990s.
No American agents were assigned to Juárez because of the risk—an appalling danger that became the focus of books and movies. Sal crossed the line anyway, becoming a pioneer in the war against the cartel in the most violent city in the world.
From high-stakes operations and close calls to the brutal realities of cartel life on both sides of the border, Sal shares the stories Hollywood can't tell. This isn't researched content or dramatized fiction—these are authentic accounts from someone who seized tons of drugs, arrested countless criminals, and worked in Mexico illegally doing what was necessary in the war on drugs.
Where to Listen & Watch:
📻 Radio: Saturdays 2:30-3:00 PM on 930 AM The Answer (San Antonio)
🎧 Podcast: Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major platforms
📺 YouTube: Full video episodes with cinematic visuals at @NARCAgentStories
About the Host:
Sal Martinez is a former Texas DPS State Trooper and highly decorated DEA Special Agent who worked undercover during the bloodiest chapter of the Mexico-U.S. border conflict. He is the author of "NARC: Convictions of an Undercover Agent", available on Amazon.
His story is one of extreme sacrifice, government betrayal, and survival—an extraordinary journey through both sides of America's criminal justice system.
📖 Read Sal's Full Story: NARC: Convictions of an Undercover Agent on Amazon
New episodes every Saturday. Real stories from the most dangerous border in the world.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
