Borderland: Narcosis with Vincent 'Rocco' Vargas

In this episode of Borderland, Vince sits down with former DEA Chief of Operations, Ray Donovan, to break down the connection between China and Mexico in the fentanyl trade. They talk about how Chinese suppliers are fueling Mexican cartels with the chemicals needed to make fentanyl, and the challenges that come with taking on this deadly international pipeline. Catch Borderland: REASONABLE FEAR, a 4-part docuseries starting on September 24th. REASONABLE FEAR S.E.C. KIT available for Pre-order at https://thisisironclad.com/products/sec Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on Borderland, Vince sits down with New York Post reporter, Jennie Taer. For most of her career, Jennie has been reporting on activities at the Southern border. More recently, she has been covering the surge in illegal Venezuelan migration, including the growing presence of individuals linked to the Tren de Aragua gang -- a gang that has caused a surge in violence acts against American law enforcement. Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on Borderland, Vince sits down with former CIA Intelligence Officer, Andrew Bustamante. Andrew is known for his expertise in espionage, international relations, and leadership. He is founder of Everyday Spy, a platform that teaches the application of spy tactics in everyday life to improve decision-making, personal security, and strategic thinking. He is also the host of the Everyday Spy podcast and Youtube channel @Andrew-Bustamante Want to learn more from Andy?Find your Spy Superpower: https://yt.everydayspy.com/Borderland Follow Andy on YouTube: https://youtube.com/@Andrew-BustamanteExplore Spy School: https://everydayspy.com/Join the podcast: https://youtube.com/@EverydaySpyPodcast Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on Borderland, Vince sits down with former Mexican law enforcement officer and security consultant, Ed Calderon. Born in Tijuana, Ed spent years in law enforcement with an operations group specializing in counternarcotics, anti-abduction, and high-risk close protection for high-profile individuals. He has consulted and trained federal law enforcement agencies including the FBI, BORTAC, Indonesian Kopaska, and intelligence service agents on both sides of the U.S./Mexico border. Ed also hosts the Manifesto Radio Podcast. Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on Borderland, Vince sits down with award-winning journalist Lydia Cacho.Amnesty International call her "perhaps Mexico's most famous investigative journalist and women's rights advocate” for her work exposing violence in the Mexican underworld. Her books include The Demons of Eden: The Power that Protects Child P****graphy, Slavery Inc: The Untold Story of International Sex Trafficking, and Infamy: How One Woman Brought an International Sex Trafficking Ring to Justice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on Borderland, Vince talks to retired Border Patrol Chief, Victor Manjarrez. Victor served more than 20 years in the Border Patrol in roles both in the field and in headquarters, His border security methods are still considered cornerstones for the border patrol. On this episode, Victor sheds light on the challenges faced by Border Patrol agents by touching on common misconceptions about the role and operations of the Border Patrol. He also comments on the most recent arrests of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada and Joaquin Guzman Lopez of the Sinaloa Cartel, and implications that could come from this to those caught in the crossfire. Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on Borderland, Vince sits down with the marshal of the historic town of Tombstone, Arizona, Jim Adams. Together, they discuss the harsh realities and impacts that the smuggling crisis has had on this town just 30 miles from the Mexican border. Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original, Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode of Borderland, Vince talks to Chris Dalby, a journalist and expert on the Jalisco New Generation Cartel. Chris dives deep into the CJNG's nuanced media tactics and how they use it to spread misinformation about their operations within Mexico and the United States. Chris Dalby is the author of CJNG: A Quick Guide to Mexico's Deadliest Cartel and currently the director of the World of Crime Think Tank. Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on Borderland, Vince talks to San Diego native Cory Gautereaux. Cory shares his experiences walking along the San Diego Southern border, where he has collected hundreds of abandoned IDs left behind by migrants crossing the border. More recently, he made the startling discovery of an abandoned iPhone, which he was able to unlock, revealing a trove of conversations between smugglers and migrants. Cory's mission is help stop trafficking along the border, which he has witnessed. If you'd like to support Cory's efforts, check out his non-profit The GOAT Initiative. The GOAT Initiative: "The specific purpose of this corporation is to combat human trafficking along the United States/Mexico border through comprehensive intelligence gathering and strategic collaboration. We aim to protect vulnerable communities by providing real-time intelligence to law enforcement, dismantling trafficking networks, and advocating for impactful policy reforms. With a steadfast commitment to human rights and dignity, we strive to foster a future free from exploitation and to form cooperative relationships with the community and contribute to other 501(c)(3) to carry on other charitable and public activities associated with this goal as allowed by law. " thegoatinitiative.org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the days following the recent presidential debate, Borderland host and BORSTAR veteran Vince Vargas broke down both candidates’ positions and statements about the immigration crisis. Here’s his thoughts on the statements made both by Biden and Trump. Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Today's Borderland, Vince sits down with investigative journalist Madeleine Rowley to discuss her recent article Nonprofits Are Making Billions off the Border Crisis . She exposes the billions of dollars NGOs are being granted from the Federal government due to the record-setting influx of immigrants into America. Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's guest is Guadalupe Correa-Cabrera. She's a Professor at the Schar School of Policy and Government, George Mason University, and formally established the Counter Narco-Terrorism Operations Center (CNTOC) in January 2007. She's also the author of Los Zetas Inc.: Criminal Corporations, Energy, and Civil War in Mexico. Sponsors: This 4th of July, make Horizon part of your celebration. Don’t miss HORIZON: AN AMERICAN SAGA, with Chapter One in theaters June 28th and Chapter Two in theaters August 16th. Join the Frontier Pass at Fandango.com for exclusive content and tickets. Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on Borderland, Vince is joined by former border patrol agent and ICE Director, Tom Homan. Tom joined the Immigration and Naturalization Service in 1984, later becoming a Border Patrol agent. He was then appointed by President Obama as Executive Associate Director of ICE in 2011. He received the Presidential Rank Award as a Distinguished Executive in 2015. Finally, in 2017, he was appointed acting director of ICE by President Trump before retiring in June of 2018. Sponsors: This 4th of July, make Horizon part of your celebration. Don’t miss HORIZON: AN AMERICAN SAGA, with Chapter One in theaters June 28th and Chapter Two in theaters August 16th. Join the Frontier Pass at Fandango.com for exclusive content and tickets. Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's Borderland, Vince talks to renowned journalist, Luis Chaparro. Luis is based on the U.S./Mexico border, and has over 15 years of experience in reporting on Mexican organized crime. He has extensively covered drug cartels, detailing their operations, leadership, and societal impact. He has interviewed fentanyl dealers and human smugglers, and his reporting also highlights the hardships faced by migrants traveling through Mexico, including encounters with human traffickers and corrupt officials. Follow Luis on IG: IG: https://www.instagram.com/luiskuryaki/?hl=en Follow Luis on X: https://x.com/LuisKuryaki?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor This 4th of July, make Horizon part of your celebration. Don’t miss HORIZON: AN AMERICAN SAGA, with Chapter One in theaters June 28th and Chapter Two in theaters August 16th. Join the Frontier Pass at Fandango.com for exclusive content and tickets. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on Borderland, Vince discusses the terrorist threats at the Southern border with former CIA Intelligence Analyst and Targeter, Sarah Adams. From 2015-2017, Sarah served as the Senior Advisor to the U.S. House of Representatives Select Committee on Benghazi. She also served overseas on behalf of the U.S. Government’s intelligence mission in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia. She is the co-author of The Benghazi Committee Report: Proposed Report of the Select Committee on the Events Surrounding the 2012 Terrorist Attack in Benghazi and the author of Benghazi: Know Thy Enemy. Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode, Vince continues to dive deeper into the cases of deported veterans with guests Alex Murillo and Livier "Livvy" Lazaro. Alex Murillo, a Navy veteran and son of Mexican immigrants, was brought to the U.S. as a toddler and served two tours in Iraq as a jet mechanic. After returning home in 2000, he struggled with PTSD and civilian life, leading to a 2009 conviction for marijuana possession with intent to distribute. Deported to Mexico in 2011, he was separated from his family of four but was allowed to return to the U.S. in 2022. Now, he seeks to assist other deported veterans. Livier "Livvy" Lazaro, a first-generation Mexican American, joined the military at 17 and served as an Army Combat medic in Iraq during the 2003 invasion and again in 2007. She retired as Sergeant First Class after 20 years and became the first female Commander of VFW Post 7420 in San Diego. As part of the VFW, a nonprofit veterans service organization, Livvy played a key role in passing a national directive to help bring home deported veterans. Follow VFW Post 7420 at https://www.instagram.com/vfwpost7420/?hl=en Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s guests is Danitza “Dee” James. She was born in Sonora, Mexico, and moved to US at 15. She is a combat veteran, having served in Iraq on two combat tours. Today, she serves as Chief Executive Officer at Repatriate Our Patriots (ROP) a non-profit organization dedicated to aiding in the repatriation of deported veterans and preventing future deportations. You can learn more at https://www.repatriateourpatriots.org/ Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's episode, Vince talks to retired DEA agent, Derek Maltz about the realities of the fentanyl epidemic in the United States. Derek was also the Special Agent in Charge of the DOJ, Special Operations Division (SOD) for almost 10 years before he left the federal government, and previously held the position as the Chief of the New York Drug Enforcement Task Force, the oldest and largest drug task force in America. Today, he is Executive Director at PenLink, which offers comprehensive solutions tailored for law enforcement, national security and defense sectors. Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on Borderland, Vince talks with former Game Warden John Nores about how Mexican drug cartels operate in America's forests and public lands. John served as a Game Warden for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife for more than 25 years. He helped develop and lead the Marijuana Enforcement Team (MET), an elite tactical unit targeting cartel drug operations on California’s public lands and created the agency’s sniper capability. John's latest book, Hidden War, 2nd Edition, is out now: http://www.johnnores.com/hidden-war.html Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on Borderland, Vince sits down with the 24th Sheriff of Pinal County in Arizona, Mark Lamb. He is also a candidate for the United States Senate. Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today Vince takes a deep dive into the fast and furious gun-running scandal with guest Pete Forcelli.He is widely known as a whistleblower for the Operation Fast and Furious scandal and wrote the book The Deadly Path: How Operation Fast & Furious and Bad Lawyers Armed Mexican Cartels Pete served for 15 years with the N.Y.P.D prior to joining the U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, where he retired as d Deputy Assistant Director. Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's guest is Matthew Thomas, Chief Deputy of the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office in Arizona. Throughout his career, he has served in several specialty units—Detention, Patrol, Traffic, Training, the Police Academy, Motors, Narcotics, and Investigations. He is also the author of the book Interceptors: The Untold Fight Against the Mexican Cartels. Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's guest is investigative journalist and filmmaker Guillermo Galdos. Has spent the last 15 years making documentaries and producing exclusive news stories from Latin and South America - topics including human rights abuses, the drug trade, immigration and exposed police corruption and the human trafficking industry. He has personally experienced and documented the treacherous conditions migrants go through as they attempt to cross the dangerous Darien Gap from Colombia into Panama to eventually make it to the US Southern Border - an over 3,000 mile journey through Central America. You can watch his film "Drowning, kidnap and jaguars - travelling the deadly Darien Gap migrant route to the USA" on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wzdkmb5Zjas Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On today's Borderland, Vince dives deeper into the current situation at the Southern Border by talking to two bordertown sheriffs. Both men previously appeared on an episode centered on Operation Lone Star (which you can watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSE2M78_MHU ), but today's episode features previously unreleased portions of these conversations. Thaddeus Cleveland is the Sheriff for Terrell County, Texas. Prior to being elected, Sheriff Cleveland spent just over 26 years in the U.S. Border Patrol. He served as the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Advisor to U.S. Army North (ARNORTH) in support of the Department of Defense’s (DoD) assistance to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for the Humanitarian Crisis at the Southwest Border with Mexico. He also served six months alongside the Texas Department of Public Safety in Austin, Texas as the Border Patrol Staff Officer at the Texas Homeland Security Border Security Operations Center (BSOC) as the single point of contact between the BSOC, U.S. Border Patrol Sectors and U.S. Border Patrol in Washington, D.C. Leon Wilmot is the Sheriff of Yuma County, Arizona. He has worked in law enforcement since 1985. Some of his professional accomplishments as Chief Deputy include the restructuring of the Southwest Border Alliance drug task force to the newly formed Yuma County Narcotics Task Force. Sheriff Wilmot was also instrumental in overseeing the restructuring of the Yuma County Sheriff’s Posse and is currently working on a Mutual Aid Law Enforcement Agreement between Imperial County California and Yuma County. Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's guest is Marine Corps veteran Daniel Torres. Born in Tijuana, he served in Operation Iraqi Freedom, but was deported to Mexico after years of service. There, he lived in The Bunker, the Deported Veteran Support House. After gaining his American citizenship, he has become an advocate for fellow veterans who have been deported. This episode was intended to spotlight his story and his advocacy, but the conversation went in other directions, highlighting the tension that often exists in debates about immigration, the law, and politics. Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike Vigil is the former Chief of International Operations for the Drug Enforcement Administration. He is also the author of DEAL, Metal Coffins: The Blood Alliance Cartel, Narco Queen, and The Land of Enchantment CartelHe is responsible for numerous multinational operations, the largest involving 36 countries, and was involved in the real-life story told in Netflix’s Narcos: Mexico involving the murder of his friend Enrique "Kiki" Camarena. Today on Borderland, Vince and Mike discuss his career, going undercover in the early days of the cartel wars, his thoughts on the border crisis, and what it will take bring down the cartels. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on Borderland, Vince talks with two asylum seekers who have escaped the authoritarian regime in Venezuela. Jorge Galicia is a Fund for American Studies research fellow, an attorney, and a TPUSA Sunshine Field Representative. Follow him on X: https://twitter.com/JorgeGalicia95 Andres Guilarte is a political activist, Outreach Fellow for the Venezuela Project and a Fund for American Studies research fellow. Follow him on X: https://twitter.com/andres7guilarte You can see more about their work here: https://tfas.org/site/venezuelan-exiles-andres-guilarte-jorge-galicia/?utm_medium=301 Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original Subscribe on YouTube: ⁠⁠https://www.youtube.com/user/thisisironclad/videos⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today is the second in a two-part series on BORDERLAND, examining the MS13 gang and the massive crackdown taking place in El Salvador. Last week, we spoke with Alex Papadovassilakis and Steven Dudley of the organization InSight Crime, to talk about efforts to clear the country of gang violence, the 70,000 people who’ve been arrested, and the mega prisons that are housing them. This week, we do a deep dive into the origins of the notorious street gang and how they differ from Mexican cartels. The fentanyl crisis, what is tranq (as well as how it became such a massive and dangerous problem in areas known for street drugs), how these drugs are coming into the country, and what can be done to stop it. Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original Subscribe on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/user/thisisironclad/videos⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today is the first in a two-part series on BORDERLAND, examining the MS13 gang and the massive crackdown taking place in El Salvador. This week, we talk with Alex Papadovassilakis and Steven Dudley of the organization InSight Crime, to talk about efforts to clear the country of gang violence, the 70,000 people who’ve been arrested, and the mega prisons that are housing them. Next week, we do a deep dive into the origins of the notorious street gang and how they differ from Mexican cartels. The fentanyl crisis, what is tranq (as well as how it became such a massive and dangerous problem in areas known for street drugs), how these drugs are coming into the country, and what can be done to stop it. Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/thisisironclad/videos Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on Borderland, Vince sits down with cartel and border security expert and Newsmax border correspondent, Jaeson Jones, who reveals the shocking situation on the Southern Border including the prevalence of drugs, human smuggling, and cartel violence. Jaeson is a retired Captain from the Texas Depa rtment of Public Safety’s Intelligence and Counter Terrorism Division and has supervised numerous Human Intelligence (HUMINT) operations. You can follow him on X and see more his work @jaeson_jone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on Borderland, Vincent “Rocco” Vargas sits down with immigration attorney and the author of the book No Human Is Illegal: An Attorney on the Front Lines of the Immigration War, J. J. Mulligan Sepulveda for a discussion about immigration, national security, race, and more. Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/thisisironclad/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on Borderland, Vincent “Rocco” Vargas hears multiple perspectives on Texas’ controversial “Operation Lone Star.” Longer conversations with these guests will be featured in episodes later this season. FEATURED GUESTS: Terrell County, Texas Sheriff Thaddeus Cleveland Author and immigration attorney J. J. Mulligan Sepulveda Change Agents host Andy Stumpf Yuma County Arizona Sheriff Leon N. Wilmot (Sheriff Wilmot’s and the National Sheriff’s “16 National Security initiatives” can be found here: https://www.sheriffs.org/sites/default/files/16%20NSA%20National%20Security%20Initiatives.pdf Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/thisisironclad/videos Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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