Narco Chronicles

On Friday, Mexican troops shot dead Jorge Humberto Figueroa, a paramilitary commander of the Chapitos faction of the Sinaloa Cartel. Here is my update news report. For more info and to support the show, check out: www.crashoutmedia.comSupport the show

While all eyes are focuses on the U.S. southern border with Mexico, the United States has a northern border that is almost three times as long. I talk with journalist Katarina Szulc about cartels in Canada and how fzntanyl crosses south from there. For more on this and other stories and to support the podcast, please go to www.crashoutmedia.comSupport the show

Two weeks on from the macabre discovery of the training and alleged extermination camp of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, the case continues to shake Mexico. But is there hope it will ever be resolved and justice will be delivered to the families of loved ones lost? Katarina Szulc and I go through all we know about the camp and the worrying developments.For more, go to www.crashoutmedia.comSupport the show

On Sunday, a U.S. flight packed with alleged members of the Tren de Aragua gang flew to El Salvador to be sent to one of the world's most feared prisons - despite an attempt by a U.S. judge to halt it. The measure fits in with a more radical approach to fight gangs and cartels across the Americas, but will face a legal fight as many of the measures of President Trump will. For more stories, got www.crashoutmedia.com Support the show

A list of nine cartels and gangs was leaked to the New York Times of those that are supposedly going to be designated as foreign terrorist organizations by the Trump White House. In this CrashOut Chronicle video, I go through who they are, how we got here and what impact the terrorist designation will have. Support the show

With on-the-ground reporting and analysis, I look at the brutal battle in Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel between the Mayos and Chapitos. Since it exploded in September, it has caused over 1,000 deaths and disappearances and shows no sign of stopping. Thanks to Omid Visua for editing. For full video, other reports and to support my work, please go to www.crashoutmedia.comSupport the show

I talk with journalist Guillermo Galdos about his latest documentary on the submarines full of cocaine that cross the Atlantic. For more stories and to support, go to: www.crashoutmedia.comSupport the show

I talk to Max Daly about his decades covering drxgs in the UK and his work as international drugs editor for Vice. Check out more on his work and books at: http://www.maxdaly.com/ Check out of my stuff at: www.crashoutmedia.com Support the show

I look at the security strategy of new Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum. For more info, check out: www.crashoutmedia.comSupport the show

Ken Behr was a major smuggler of marijuana and cocaine into South Florida from the 1970s to the 1990s. When he finally got caught, he made a deal and worked undercover for the DEA for two years. He reveals all in his new book, "Confessions of a Marijuana Mercenary," which he talks about in this fascinating interview. For more info, go to: www.crashoutmedia.comSupport the show

I talk to anthropologist Angela Garcia about the "anexos" in Mexico City that keep dozens of so-called addicts locked up in a single room for years using harsh methods such as chaining them to the wall. She has written about these for her new book, "The Way That Leads Among The Lost." I also talk to her about addiction in the New Mexico where she is from and any hopes of breaking the cycle.For more stories and to support my work, go to: www.crashoutmedia.com Support the Show.

Sometimes you find a story that just blows you away and makes you wonder how you hadn't heard it before. Patrick Winn's new book “Narcotopia” did just that in painting the first detailed portrait of the Wa State, an Asian territory the size of Belgium that is effectively run by a drug cartel. Wa State is officially in Myanmar but is self governed with its own army, supplied by Beijing. It churns out heinous quantities of crystal meth that floods the Asian markets, except China. There has been surprisingly little response to China having this client narco state, but then the United States also used to work with drug traffickers in this Golden Triangle to unsuccessfully fight against North Vietnam and before that against the government in Beijing itself.  I'll let Patrick tell you the rest in this episode of the CrashOut Chronicles podcast. To find out more on CrashOut and support the podcast, go to: www.crashoutmedia.comSupport the Show.

I talk with bad ass journalist Hollie McKay who reported in Afghanistan about how the opium was trafficked massively under the Allied occupation and how the Taliban destroyed it.You can check out Hollie's Subtsack on:  https://holliesmckay.substack.com/To read more CrashOut stories and support the Chronicles go to: www.crashoutmedia.com   Support the Show.

I get into the seismic detention of Ismael "El Mayo" Zambada. For my full story please go to: https://www.crashoutmedia.com/p/exclu... You can also see more of my pieces and support my work at: www.crashoutmedia.comSupport the Show.

Mexico's first female president smashes the election 2024Check out: www.crashutmedia.com Support the Show.

In another tragic case, three surfers - two Australian and one American - took a trip to Baja California and didn't make it back; their bodies were found in a well with bullet wounds. Baja California authorities were quick to find them and arrest suspects. But questions remain. How did they get to the alleged perpetrators? If it was a robbery why was the vehicle of the surfers burned out. To support my work, please go to www.crashoutmedia.comOr https://buymeacoffee.com/ioangrilloSupport the Show.

In Baltimore, Maryland, I interviewed teenage killer turned anti violence activist Tyree "Colion" Moorehead. In 2022, Colion was himself shot dead by a police officer while assaulting a woman and having a knife drawn. For more of my work, check out: www.crashoutmedia.comSupport the show

I talk to Margarito Flores, who along with his brother trafficked more than 60 tons of cocaine for the Sinaloa Cartel. They then became cooperators and gathered evidence that was used to indict more than 50 traffickers, including El Chapo. He is now working giving classes to law enforcement on the workings of cartels and trying to make a difference. Check out more on him at: kingpintoeducator.com or dynamicpolicetraining.comTo read more of my work and support this podcast go to: www.crashoutmedia.comSupport the show

I look into the crazy new allegations dropping Mexico. To look into the issues further and support my work please go to: www.crashoutmedia.com

 I talk to journalist Ben Westhoff about his work covering the overdose crisis and gun violence. To support this podcast and my work, you can go to: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ioangrillo or www.crashoutmedia.com

I talk to Christian Cipollini about California's Homegrown Sicario: El Mano Negra. You can read the story on the years of interviews with El Mano Negra at: www.crashoutmedia.com You can also support my work at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ioangrillo

Luis Chaparro and I talk to Deborah Bonello about her investigation into the cartel queenpins and her book Narcas. You can support this podcast on: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ioangrillo Or subscribing to: www.crashoutmedia.com Also check out Deborah's Substack at: https://dbonello.substack.com/ and her book at: https://www.amazon.com/Narcas-Secret-... Check our Luis' YouTube channel at: @luischaparro And his Substack at: https://www.lchaparro.com/

Journalist Luis Chaparro got an exclusive interview with the narco known as El Plaga. The thing is El Plaga was meant to be in Mexican prison but he says he is on the streets. You can read the story on El Plaga here - https://www.crashoutmedia.com/p/narco-el-plaga-gives-me-an-interview

I talk with Luis Chaparro on his interview with narco turned informant Dámaso López Serrano, alias Mini Lic. To read the full story on Mini Lic go to www.crashoutmedia.com

I talk with fellow narco journalist Luis Chaparro about the crime bosses in his hometown of Ciudad Juarez from La Nacha to the Lord of the Skies and rise and fall of the Juarez Cartel 

I talked to fellow crime journalist Niko Vorobyov about the situation right now in Russia, with the protests, war, oligarchs and crime bosses. Check out Niko's work on: @Lemmiwinks_III https://www.amazon.com/-/es/Niko-Vorobyov-ebook/dp/B0818Q395Q

On February 15, 2011, members of the Zetas drug cartel attacked two agents from ICE, or Immigration and Customs Enforcement, in the state of San Luis Potosi, Mexico. One of them, Jaime Zapata, was killed. The other, Victor Avila, survived. Here he tells his story.

This is an interview I conducted in 2019 with former Mexican President Felipe Calderón for my book Blood Gun Money: How America Arms Gangs and Cartel.  I am releasing the audio of the interview today to coincide with the release of the book, which you can find from all good booksellers, in print, kindle or as an audio book. I interviewed former President Calderón, who ruled Mexico from 2006 to 2012, especially to ask about his attempts to fight firearms trafficking from the United States, and how much he knew about Fast and Furious - a botched operation by the ATF to follow firearms being smuggled by the cartels. However, the interview also goes into detail about former President Calderón's crackdown on drug cartels, the accusations of corruption, the death of his Interior Secretary in a mysterious plane crash and much more. 

This is a debate with my friend and fellow writer Malcolm Beith, author The Last Narco, about whether the War on Drugs, which turns 50 last year, will change under Biden-Harris. I argue that there is hope and opportunity for a deescalation. He argues they will ramp it up.

Following the arrest of ex Mexican defense minister General Cienfuegos, I have a very late night chat with Mike Vigil, who served decades in the DEA, going undercover with traffickers. He was the longest serving agent in Mexico and also went to Central America and Colombia and arrested major traffickers. He reveals fascinating details about arrest of Cienfuegos and his time working with the Mexican security forces.

I talk with legendary Mexican journalist Temoris Grecko about his new book Killing The Story, looking at the incessant attacks on Mexican journalists. More than 150 journalists have been murdered in Mexico since 2000, putting it alongside Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan as the most perilous countries in the world for the trade. We talk about the impunity, journalists fighting on, solutions, fears and hope. The book can be found at: https://www.amazon.com.mx/Killing-Story-Journalists-Risking-Uncover/dp/1620975025CW_0006

There's a crazy story of what could be the biggest boxing fight in history, with a purse of $200 million per fight, of Tyson Fury against Anthony Joshua for 2021 and the involvement of an Irish crime family linked to trafficking cocaine and heroin into Europe. I talk to Nicola Tallant, crime editor of Ireland's Sunday World who has been following Irish gangsters for two decades.CrimeWar0002Thanks to Leon Ricciardi and Jazzology for beats.