In this explosive episode, Johnny sits down with former Mexican Special Forces officer and cartel expert Ed Calderon to uncover the real state of the cartel wars in Mexico. From the ongoing civil war within the Sinaloa cartel between Los Chapitos and Los Mayos, to how cartel kingpin El Mayo Zambada still pulls strings from a U.S. jail cell — Ed breaks it all down like no one else can.
We also dive into:
– The cartel’s deep infiltration into Mexican politics
– U.S. pressure on Mexico through tariffs and diplomacy
– The fentanyl crisis and its real players
– Why drug trafficking is more corporate than ever
– Corruption, violence, and the future of narco culture in Mexico
Brace yourself — this is an unfiltered look at the front lines of one of the most dangerous, politically entangled conflicts in the world.
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00:00:00 Intro
00:01:31 The Business Of Making Drugs Illegal
00:04:15 The Shift from War on Drugs to War on Terrorism
00:08:45 The Evolution of Power Dynamics in Mexican Cartels
00:13:03 Irregular Arrests and Diplomatic Tensions
00:17:38 Legal Challenges and Power Dynamics within Cartels
00:22:00 Legal Loopholes in High-Profile Arrests
00:26:28 Cartel Influence on Border Security
00:30:39 The Evolving Fight Against Mexican Cartels
00:34:57 The Complex Role of Cartels in North American Economy
00:39:21 The Complex Network Behind Drug Trafficking Operations
00:43:31 Changes in Immigration and Border Control
00:47:42 Mexico’s Economic and Industrial Transformation
00:52:18 The Struggle of Mexican Mothers Searching for the Missing
00:56:40 Cartel Communications and Strategic Evasion
01:01:00 Chaos and Betrayal in Criminal Organizations
01:05:20 Ongoing Cartel Activity in Mexico
01:09:40 Federal Agents’ Impact on Border Safety
01:13:51 Influence of Military Tactics on Mexican Cartels
01:18:31 U.S. Special Forces Training in Mexico
01:22:35 Cartel Operations and Military Challenges
01:26:48 Cartel Influence and Political Connections
01:31:09 Challenges in Drug Enforcement and Trends
01:35:36 Reconnecting Through a Mexican Podcast
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