Borderland: Dispatches with Katarina Szulc

Following the fall of El Mencho, CJNG’s transition of power has been far more seamless than many expected. In this episode, Katarina breaks down the rise of El 03, a U.S.-born successor with deep ties to the Valencia narco dynasty, and what his emergence reveals about cartel succession, family power networks, and the long-term effectiveness of the kingpin strategy. Borderland: Dispatches is an IRONCLAD Original Sponsors: GHOSTBED: Go to https://www.GhostBed.com/IRONCLAD and use code IRONCLAD for an extra 15% off sitewide. Norwood Sawmills: Learn more about Norwood Sawmills and how you can start milling your own lumber at https://norwoodsawmills.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From Rafael Caro Quintero to El Mayo-linked leadership, several cartel figures are now facing proceedings in U.S. federal court. Katarina examines the recent wave of transfers from Mexico to the U.S., what it means for ongoing prosecutions, and how these cases may shape the next phase of the fight against cartel leadership and trafficking networks. Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original Sponsors: GHOSTBED: Go to https://www.GhostBed.com/IRONCLAD and use code IRONCLAD for an extra 15% off sitewide. Norwood Sawmills: Learn more about Norwood Sawmills and how you can start milling your own lumber at https://norwoodsawmills.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Producer’s note: This episode is best experienced visually. To see the full context of Katarina’s reporting, including locations, narco messages, and on-the-ground scenes, head over to our YouTube channel for the full video. On today’s episode, Katarina Szulc is on the ground in Jalisco, Mexico, revealing the aftermath of CJNG cartel activity. From narco messages to retaliation and the impact on local communities, she shows what life looks like when violence leaves its mark. Borderland: Dispatches is an IRONCLAD Original Sponsors: GHOSTBED: Go to https://www.GhostBed.com/IRONCLAD and use code IRONCLAD for an extra 15% off sitewide. Norwood Sawmills:Learn more about Norwood Sawmills and how you can start milling your own lumber at https://norwoodsawmills.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Katarina is on the ground in Mexico, inside the compound of El Mencho just days after the reported raid that killed him. But something doesn’t add up. As she walks the scene, the physical evidence doesn’t match the official story, raising serious questions about what actually happened during the operation. This is a raw, firsthand look at the aftermath and the inconsistencies that could change the narrative. Borderland Dispatches is an IRONCLAD Original Sponsors: GHOSTBED: Go to https://www.GhostBed.com/IRONCLAD and use code IRONCLAD for an extra 15% off sitewide. Norwood Sawmills: Learn more about Norwood Sawmills and how you can start milling your own lumber at https://norwoodsawmills.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode, Katarina sits down with independent journalist Jorge Ventura to discuss his exclusive reporting on cartel smuggling networks along the California border. He explains how migrants from the Middle East and China are being smuggled through Mexico via high-cost “VIP” routes, often coordinated through hotels, mosques, and encrypted communications. He also details emerging national security concerns, including individuals classified as special interest aliens and potential sleeper cells in the United States. Borderland Dispatches is an IRONCLAD Original Sponsors: GHOSTBED: Go to https://www.GhostBed.com/IRONCLAD and use code IRONCLAD for an extra 15% off sitewide. Norwood Sawmills: Learn more about Norwood Sawmills and how you can start milling your own lumber at https://norwoodsawmills.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode, Katarina just returned from Jalisco, where she visited the cabin compound where CJNG leader El Mencho was reportedly killed. She shares what she saw on the ground and previews her upcoming full report. Borderland: Dispatches is an IRONCLAD Original Sponsors: GHOSTBED: Go to https://www.GhostBed.com/IRONCLAD and use code IRONCLAD for an extra 15% off sitewide. Norwood Sawmills: Learn more about Norwood Sawmills and how you can start milling your own lumber at https://norwoodsawmills.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode, Katarina reports from Montana’s northern border near the Blackfeet Nation, where vast stretches of open land are being exploited for drug and human trafficking. She’s joined by former game warden John Nores, who spent decades confronting cartel operations on public and tribal lands. Katarina also shares the story of Marla Ollinger, a grandmother who tragically lost both of her children to fentanyl and now raises her grandchildren while navigating the dangers and fallout of the ongoing crisis in rural and tribal communities. Borderland: Dispatches is an IRONCLAD Original Chapters: (00:00) Introduction: The Fentanyl Crisis in Montana (01:25) A Mother's Heartbreak: Marla's Story of Loss (07:07) Breaking the Cycle: Raising the Grandkids (09:17) The Vulnerable Northern Border (14:02) Smuggling Routes and Environmental Destruction (16:11) The Law Enforcement Challenge: Complex Jurisdictions (18:56) Anonymous Interview with a Tribal Police Officer Sponsors: GHOSTBED: Go to https://www.GhostBed.com/IRONCLAD and use code IRONCLAD for an extra 15% off sitewide. Norwood Sawmills: Learn more about Norwood Sawmills and how you can start milling your own lumber at https://norwoodsawmills.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On next week's episode, Katarina reports from the northern border in Montana near the Blackfeet Nation, where vast stretches of open land along the U.S.–Canada border are being used for drug and human trafficking. To watch the trailer, visit: https://youtu.be/lHDu8HXXD8k Borderland: Dispatches is an IRONCLAD Original Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today’s episode, Katarina breaks down the killing of several kidnapped workers connected to Canadian mining company Vizsla Silver Corp. in Sinaloa. Borderland: Dispatches is an IRONCLAD Original Sponsors: GhostBed: Go to https://www.GhostBed.com/DISPATCHES and use code DISPATCHES for an extra 15% off sitewide. Norwood Sawmills: Learn more about Norwood Sawmills and how you can start milling your own lumber at https://norwoodsawmills.com/ Subscribe on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/borderland-dispatches-with-katarina-szulc/id1814920364 Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7EvQ4S8NnDqqSdCRhZvPaI?si=ea91d3147b6b46bc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While on route to her next assignment, Katarina takes a break from the frontlines to answer the questions you’ve been asking. From the latest on Ryan Wedding’s arrest to the realities of reporting on Mexican cartels, international crime, and organized crime networks, Katarina gives unfiltered insights from her years of on-the-ground journalism. She also opens up about the risks, challenges, and surprising moments behind the stories she covers, and what drives her to keep going back into the heart of the narco world. Borderland: Dispatches is an IRONCLAD Original Sponsors: GHOSTBED: Go to https://www.GhostBed.com/DISPATCHES and use code DISPATCHES for an extra 15% off sitewide. Norwood Sawmills: Learn more about Norwood Sawmills and how you can start milling your own lumber at https://norwoodsawmills.com/ Show less Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

While on route to her next assignment, Katarina takes a break from the frontlines to answer the questions you’ve been asking. From the latest on Ryan Wedding’s arrest to the realities of reporting on Mexican cartels, international crime, and organized crime networks, Katarina gives unfiltered insights from her years of on-the-ground journalism. She also opens up about the risks, challenges, and surprising moments behind the stories she covers, and what drives her to keep going back into the heart of the narco world. Borderland: Dispatches is an IRONCLAD Original Chapters: (00:00)- Unpacking Ryan Wedding's Surrender and Apprehension Details (05:35)- Navigating Journalism's Dangers and Expanding Global Coverage (11:29) - Finding Satisfaction, Speaking Spanish, and Exposing Political Corruption (18:14)- The Scariest Moment: Protecting Sources from Law Enforcement (21:18)- Pursuing Dream Interviews While Prioritizing Personal Safety (23:43)- Exposing Ryan Wedding's Fake AI-Generated Instagram Account (26:58)- Admiration of Anthony Bourdain (29:02)- Fentanyl Crisis, Middle East Reporting Sponsors: GHOSTBED: Go to https://www.GhostBed.com/DISPATCHES and use code DISPATCHES for an extra 15% off sitewide. Norwood Sawmills: Learn more about Norwood Sawmills and how you can start milling your own lumber at https://norwoodsawmills.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices