Borderland: Narcosis with Vincent 'Rocco' Vargas

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Inside the Cartel: FBI Agent Martin Suarez’s 24 Years Undercover Smuggling Billions for the Colombian Drug Empire Oct 27, 2025

Show notes

On today’s episode, Vince sits down with former FBI agent Martin Suarez. For 23 years, Martin lived undercover inside Colombian cartels. Joined by Ian Frisch, who co-wrote his memoir Inside the Cartel: How an Undercover FBI Agent Smuggled Cocaine, Laundered Cash, and Dismantled a Colombian Narco-Empire, Martin reflects on the psychological toll of undercover work, the art of gaining a cartel’s trust, and the scale of drug trafficking. This conversation also exposes the realities of the drug trade, and why America’s approach to the war on drugs remains a challenge.

Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original

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Bounties on Agents, PsyOps, and CIA Allegations | Q&A with Katarina Szulc Oct 20, 2025

Show notes

On today’s episode, Vince and Katarina address questions submitted by the audience. They examine how communication gaps between Border Patrol, local sheriffs, and state authorities are affecting enforcement, the growing presence of cartel safe houses inside the U.S., and the role of psychological operations in modern conflicts. The conversation also explores claims of cartel members training abroad, bounties on CBP personnel, and the extent to which U.S. policy and demand contribute to cartel power.

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Mexico’s Drug War Turns a Corner: Homicides Drop as South American Cartels Surge (Jaeson Jones Returns) Oct 13, 2025

Show notes

On today's episode, Vince welcomes back border expert Jaeson Jones to explore the evolving security landscape in Mexico. Jaeson shares his firsthand experiences embedding with Mexican forces and details how intelligence-led operations and the integration of the National Guard have contributed to a 32% reduction in homicides under the Scheinbaum administration.

They discuss Operation Northern Border, the strategic dismantling of cartel infrastructure, and the rise of South American cartels attempting to exploit gaps in Mexico’s drug trade. Jaeson also examines the global nature of smuggling, the challenges posed by outdated laws, and the critical role of collaboration between the U.S. and Mexico.

Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original

Sponsors:

1stPhorm

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.

TacPack

Visit http://www.TacPack.com

and use code IRONCLAD at checkout to get a free $70 tactical gift

AmmoSquared

Visit https://ammosquared.com/ today for a special offer and keep yourself fully stocked. With over 100,000 members and thousands of 5-star ratings, Your readiness is their mission.

Marek Health

Take control of your health today! Head to https://www.MarekHealth.com and use code FOCALPOINT for 10% off at checkout.

AmmoSquared

Visit https://ammosquared.com/ today for a special offer and keep yourself fully stocked. With over 100,000 members and thousands of 5-star ratings, Your readiness is their mission.

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Venezuela Black Ops Collapse: U.S. Operative Who Tried to Topple Maduro Now Fighting for His Life Oct 06, 2025

Show notes

On today's episode, Vince sits down with Jordan Goudreau, the former Green Beret and private security contractor behind the infamous Operation Gideon—the 2020 failed coup attempt in Venezuela. Jordan takes us inside the planning, the high-stakes execution, and the moment he realized the mission was unraveling. He also opens up about the legal fallout he’s facing in the U.S., the financial and logistical challenges of running a private operation, and what drove him to take on one of the boldest—and most controversial—missions in recent history.

His story is featured in the new documentary, MEN OF WAR

https://www.neonrated.com/film/men-of-war

Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original

Sponsors:

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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.

AmmoSquared

Visit https://ammosquared.com/ today for a special offer and keep yourself fully stocked. With over 100,000 members and thousands of 5-star ratings, Your readiness is their mission.

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How Cartels Actually Operate in Venezuela: America’s War, Government-Collapse & Synthetic Drug War (Pierre Rausini Returns) Sep 29, 2025

Show notes

On today’s episode, Vince welcomes back Pierre Rausini to uncover how drug trafficking, money laundering, and geopolitics collide. They break down Venezuela’s transformation into a trafficker’s haven, the Cartel de Soles’ shadow role within the Venezuelan state, and how synthetic opioids dominate the market. The conversation digs into the sophisticated financial networks that keep cartels alive, the U.S. government’s efforts to disrupt them, and the global power plays that shape who profits and who falls.

Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original

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.

AmmoSquared

Visit https://ammosquared.com/ today for a special offer and keep yourself fully stocked. With over 100,000 members and thousands of 5-star ratings, Your readiness is their mission.

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El Mayo’s Deal Ignites Cartel Collapse—Venezuelan Strikes & Sheinbaum Cartel Ties Sep 22, 2025

Show notes

On today’s episode, Vince welcomes back investigative journalist and host of Borderland: Dispatches, Katarina Szulc, to discuss the latest news around the world of drug cartels and organized crime. They cover recent U.S. military actions in Venezuela, cartel operations in Mexico, and the rise of human trafficking. Katarina shares her reporting experiences, including a story about the trafficking of young pregnant women in Juarez. The episode examines the challenges of reporting on organized crime and the broader implications for international security and human rights.

Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original

Sponsors:

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.

AmmoSquared

Visit https://ammosquared.com/ today for a special offer and keep yourself fully stocked. With over 100,000 members and thousands of 5-star ratings, Your readiness is their mission.

TacPack

Visit http://www.TacPack.com

and use code IRONCLAD at checkout to get a free $70 tactical gift

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

THE CONNECT: Ex-Trafficker Johnny Mitchell — Inside the Cartel Shift: Why They No Longer Fear U.S. Power Sep 15, 2025

Show notes

On today’s episode, Vince sits down with Johnny Mitchell, comedian, former trafficker, and host of The Connect with Johnny Mitchell, to go inside the world of drug trafficking and organized crime. Johnny shares his firsthand experiences running operations and embedding with cartel members and sicarios, offering rare insight into how these organizations operate daily. They discuss the evolving global drug market, including California weed being trafficked south, the structure and strategies of cartels, and the cultural and economic factors that sustain them. The conversation also explores the societal impact of the drug trade and the potential effects of legalization and regulation.

Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original

Sponsors:

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.

AmmoSquared

Visit https://ammosquared.com/ today for a special offer and keep yourself fully stocked. With over 100,000 members and thousands of 5-star ratings, Your readiness is their mission.

TacPack

Visit http://www.TacPack.com

and use code IRONCLAD at checkout to get a free $70 tactical gift

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Inside Venezuela’s Cartel de los Soles and How It Threatens the U.S Sep 01, 2025

Show notes

On today’s episode, Vince sits down with Wesley Tabor, a former DEA agent and CIA assignee with over two decades of experience tracking transnational criminal networks. Together, they uncover the hidden power of the Cartel de los Soles, a Venezuelan syndicate that operates at the intersection of organized crime and geopolitics. Wesley explains how the cartel’s deep ties to Venezuela’s military and political elite fuel corruption, enable drug trafficking, and attract the influence of foreign governments like China, Russia, and Iran.

Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original

Sponsors:

visit: https://www.1stphorm.com/borderland

Free shipping through this link on any orders over $75

Free 30 days in the app for new customers (offer comes via email after the purchase)

110% money back guarantee on all of our products. We believe fully in our products. If you don’t love the product or you aren’t getting the results you hoped for, let us know and we’ll give you your money back … plus 10%!

AmmoSquared

Visit https://ammosquared.com/ today for a special offer and keep yourself fully stocked. With over 100,000 members and thousands of 5-star ratings, Your readiness is their mission.

TacPack

Visit http://www.TacPack.com

and use code IRONCLAD at checkout to get a free $70 tactical gift

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mayo Zambada’s Plea Deal, Sinaloa Cartel Fragmentation, and Cartels Using AI & Drones Aug 25, 2025

Show notes

On this week’s episode, Vince talks with Stefano Ritondale, a military intelligence veteran and journalist behind @All_Source_News, about the changing landscape of organized crime. The episode covers the fragmentation of the Sinaloa cartel, the impact of Mayo Zambada’s upcoming plea deal, and what it could reveal about political corruption in Mexico and the United States.

Stefano also explains how cartels are using AI and drones, drawing comparisons to tactics seen in Ukraine, and discusses the growing role of Brazilian gangs in the global drug trade. The conversation explores how these developments affect U.S.–Mexico relations and international security.

Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original

1stPhorm

visit: https://www.1stphorm.com/borderland

Free shipping through this link on any orders over $75

Free 30 days in the app for new customers (offer comes via email after the purchase)

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Visit https://ammosquared.com/ today for a special offer and keep yourself fully stocked. With over 100,000 members and thousands of 5-star ratings, Your readiness is their mission.

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America's Deadliest Chinese Mafia Drug Network Operating in Maine Aug 18, 2025

Show notes

On this week’s episode, Vince sits down with Steve Robinson, investigative journalist and executive producer of the documentary High Crimes, to discuss his investigation into illegal marijuana grows in Maine. Robinson reveals how many of these operations are controlled by Chinese organized crime, exploiting loopholes in state cannabis laws and using dangerous pesticides that pose health risks. He also examines the connections between these grows, broader drug trafficking networks, political complicity, and the implications for local communities and U.S. national security. Sponsors: 1stPhorm visit: https://www.1stphorm.com/borderland Free shipping through this link on any orders over $75 Free 30 days in the app for new customers (offer comes via email after the purchase) 110% money back guarantee on all of our products. We believe fully in our products. If you don’t love the product or you aren’t getting the results you hoped for, let us know and we’ll give you your money back … plus 10%!

AmmoSquared

Visit https://ammosquared.com/ today for a special offer and keep yourself fully stocked. With over 100,000 members and thousands of 5-star ratings, Your readiness is their mission.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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