A Former Mexican Customs Official on Cartels, Corruption, and U.S. Strikes (with Karlo Villalpando)
Borderland: Narcosis with Vincent 'Rocco' VargasShow Notes
On today's episode, Vince sits down with Karlo Villalpando, a 10-year veteran of Mexican Customs and former Port Director in Sonoyta, to discuss the recent surrender of Sinaloa's Secretary of Public Safety to the DEA, the SDNY indictment naming Sinaloa state officials allegedly on the cartel's payroll, and what President Claudia Sheinbaum's government is and isn't doing about it. They also cover the cartel's parallel governance over U.S. companies operating in Mexico and whether U.S. operators are already on the ground.
Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original
Chapters:
(00:00) Introduction (03:05) What Americans Get Wrong About the Cartels (05:17) The Cartels Are a Parallel Government in Mexico (12:17) Why Corruption Runs Mexico's Government (16:38) "They Offered Me Cash, Cars, and Properties" — A Cartel Bribe Attempt (21:21) A Sinaloa Cabinet Official Surrenders to the DEA (22:21) Cartels Inside U.S. Companies Operating in Mexico (33:26) Is Sheinbaum's Government Actually Fighting the Cartels? (44:30) Will the U.S. Strike Mexico? And Why U.S. Operators May Already Be There
Sponsors:
1st Phorm: Go to https://www.1stphorm.com/borderland and get free shipping on any orders over $75, free 30 days in the app for new customers, and 110% money back guarantee on all of our products.
Norwood Sawmills: Learn more about Norwood Sawmills and how you can start milling your own lumber at https://norwoodsawmills.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=ironclad&utm_campaign=ironclad
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
More from Borderland: Narcosis with Vincent 'Rocco' Vargas
Katarina Szulc joins Vince 'Rocco' Vargas to discuss her latest investigation into foreign fighters in Ukraine, cartel paramilitary groups, the state of trafficking, and the law enforcement wars on cartels.
Stephen Dudley is the co-founder and co-director of InSight Crime, a think tank focused on organized crime in the Americas.
Pierre Rausini is an author, former Los Angeles trafficking kingpin, and cartel expert.
Scott McGregor is a former Canadian military intelligence operator, intelligence advisor to federal law enforcement, former Senior Intelligence Officer, policy analyst under a provincial Attorney General, and a Senior Fellow and Security Advisor to the Council on Countering Hybrid Warfare.
Joe Hefferon, a former New Jersey police captain with 25 years experience in law enforcement. Is a writer and investigative reporter, who recently published an incredible deep-dive piece on the arrest of El Mayo and what really happened.