On today’s bonus episode, Vince talks to Scott Higham, a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter with The Washington Post, renowned for exposing corporate corruption, criminal networks, and critical public safety issues. With a career rooted in investigative journalism, he has spent years uncovering the truth behind the opioid crisis—particularly the role pharmaceutical companies played in fueling the epidemic.

As the co-author of American Cartel: Inside the Battle to Bring Down the Opioid Industry, he and his colleague Sari Horwitz revealed how pharmaceutical giants knowingly marketed highly addictive painkillers, contributing to widespread addiction and devastating overdose deaths, as well as setting the stage for the Mexican drug cartels.

Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original

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On today's episode, Vince sits down with former Sinaloa cartel kingpin turned educator, Margarito "Jay" Flores.

Margarito Flores Jr. as known as “Jay”, grew up in Chicago, where he and his twin brother, Pedro, were born into a family of drug traffickers. Starting at the street level, they rose to run one of the largest drug distribution organizations in U.S. history, working directly with El Chapo Guzmán, El Mayo Zambada, and other high-ranking members of the Sinaloa Cartel as their main U.S. distributors.

Seeking a safer and better future for their families, Jay and Pedro voluntarily reached out to U.S. authorities, playing a key role in the indictment, arrest, and prosecution of El Chapo Guzmán, El Mayo Zambada, and other top cartel leaders across multiple federal districts. Their cooperation marked a turning point, leading Jay to a path of redemption and education.

Today, Jay is dedicated to educating law enforcement on the inner workings of drug cartels and trafficking operations. Through his seminars, including “From Kingpin to Educator,” he provides firsthand insights to equip officers with the tools needed to combat drug cartels effectively. His work extends beyond law enforcement training—he collaborates with universities, criminal justice organizations, and policymakers to promote education, deterrence, and innovative anti-drug trafficking strategies.

Jay also worked with Congress, providing expert insight into drug trafficking operations, cartel strategies, and smuggling tactics to help shape better policies, laws, and resources for tackling organized crime.

As part of his mission, Jay founded the Kingpin to Educator Foundation, an initiative focused on raising money to provide free training for law enforcement officers and agencies on a wide range of topics, from cartel operations to drug prevention strategies. The foundation also supports drug prevention education for students, youth organizations, and juvenile detention centers, helping young people understand the dangers of drugs and organized crime.

To learn more about Jay's work, visit: https://kingpintoeducator.com/

Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original

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On today's episode, Vince Vargas sits down with Sarah Kinosian, the investigative journalist behind the revealing Reuters article, How a Factory City in Wisconsin Fed Military-Grade Weapons to a Mexican Cartel. Sarah talks through her investigation into how a small factory in Wisconsin became a crucial link in supplying military-grade firearms to the CJNG cartel. They also discuss the implications of this illegal trade, the role of U.S. manufacturing in fueling violence south of the border, and the wider connection between American-made weapons and cartel activity.

Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original.

To submit tips, stories, and guest ideas email: [email protected]

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On today's episode, Vince sits down with Pierre Rausini.

Pierre Rausini is an author and former Los Angeles kingpin. He was charged with operating a criminal enterprise under the Federal Drug Kingpin Statute and prosecuted for participating in wide-ranging drug conspiracies. Rausini's extensive history of drug trafficking in Southern California throughout the 1990s involved direct collaboration with high-level Sinaloa operatives who managed the cartel's American-based distribution network and its money laundering operation. This experience provided him with an intimate understanding of the cartel's logistics and operational strategies.  

Rausini was released last year after serving twenty-six years in federal prison. His incarceration allowed him to live alongside and develop deep relationships with high-ranking members of both the Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation cartels, including several of their drug lords. This unique position enabled him to gain profound insights into the mindset, decision-making process, and cultural dynamics of these individuals. Rausini's first-hand knowledge of how cartel leaders think and operate offers a level of insight that is simply unattainable through traditional intelligence-gathering methods. Rausini has been invited to speak before law enforcement groups as a subject-matter expert and he appears on social media, commenting on matters relating to drug trafficking, money laundering, and cartel intrigue. 

To learn more about Pierre's story, check out: Devil Exposed: A Twisted Tale of Drug Trafficking, Corruption & Murder in the City of Angels

Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original

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On this bonus episode, Vince welcomes back Katarina Szulc to discuss the recent propaganda video from Cartel De Noreste, claiming to reject violence while continuing their criminal activities. They dive into Trump’s pressure on Claudia Sheinbaum to combat cartels and examine the cartel networks at the Northern border.

Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original

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On today's episode, Vince welcomes back security expert and former Mexican law enforcement officer Ed Calderon to discuss Claudia Sheinbaum’s decision to send 10,000 Mexican troops to the U.S. border. They also explore the implications of this move, the response from Mayo Zambada and the Sinaloa Cartel, and how it may affect cartel operations. The conversation also covers perspectives from Mexican citizens and cartel members on Donald Trump and how his policies influence dynamics at the border.

Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original

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On today’s episode, Vince sits down with investigative journalist Katarina Szulc to discuss the escalating cartel violence in Mexico and the impact of the U.S. officially designating cartels as Foreign Terrorist Organizations (FTOs).

To read more of Katarina's work check out:

https://katarinaszulc.substack.com/about

IG: @KatarinaSzulc

X: @KatarinaSzulc

Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original.

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Last season, we took you to the frontlines of the border crisis.

We dug into the brutal realities behind immigration—the policies, the fears, and the human toll it takes on individuals and communities.

That was just the beginning.

Now, we’re going deeper. 

We’re pulling back the curtain on the ruthless forces that drive mass migration - organized crime. 

On the new season of Borderland, NARCOSIS

We’ll take an even closer look at the institutions, criminal forces, drugs, and operations that are driving mass migration from regions torn apart by unprecedented violence and corruption.

We’re not just talking about the cartels. We’re showing you the inner workings of these criminal empires and the power they hold over entire regions. 

Catch the new season of Borderland: Narcosis everywhere you get your podcasts and on Youtube @thisisironclad

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On today’s episode, Vince sits down with Luis Navia, a former Cuban-American drug trafficker who played a central role in the international cocaine trade for over 25 years, and Jesse Fink, the author who chronicled Luis’s story.

Born in Cuba, Luis fled to Miami with his family after Castro’s takeover in 1959. Raised in privilege, he attended private schools and Georgetown University before becoming involved in drug trafficking in the 1970s. Known in South American cocaine circles as “El Senador,” Luis worked with powerful cartels, including Escobar’s Medellín cartel, the Cali cartel, and Venezuela’s Cartel de los Soles, building extensive smuggling networks across Latin America, the Caribbean, and the U.S.

In 2000, Luis was arrested in a global operation that involved the DEA, FBI, and Colombian authorities. After being held accountable for over 10 tons of cocaine, he cooperated with U.S. authorities, providing critical information on cartel operations and serving five years in prison.

Together, Luis and Jesse share insights into the dangerous world of drug trafficking, the decisions that led to Luis’s rise and fall, and the lessons learned along the way.

To find out more about Luis's story, check out Jesse Fink's book: Pure Narco: One Man's True Story of 25 Years Inside the Cartels

Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original

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On today's episode, Vince responds to audience questions and comments, discussing the future of the war on drugs, the role of mass deportations, and the impact of drug legalization. He also shares insights on what the incoming administration’s policies could mean for the fight against cartels and border security.

Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original

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