Borderland: Narcosis with Vincent 'Rocco' Vargas

IRONCLAD
IRONCLAD
  • 4.6 (124)
  • News
  • Updated Weekly

New Episodes Every Monday. An unfiltered look at real stories from America's Southern Border. Each week, special operations combat veteran, actor, writer, and veteran BORSTAR Agent Vincent “Rocco” Vargas sits down with guests to discuss the ruthless forces driving mass migration—organized crime. This season, Borderland: Narcosis takes an unfiltered look at the criminal networks fueling the crisis, from human trafficking and the drug trade to extortion and corruption embedded at every level of society. An IRONCLAD Original

  1. 2d ago

    China's Plan to TAKEOVER the Drug Trade and Use Canada as a Backdoor into the U.S. (with Scott McGregor)

    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. He is the Founder and Principle Commentator at HybridWar.ca and is the co-author of the book, “The Mosaic Effect: How the Chinese Communist Party Started a Hybrid War in America's Backyard.” Borderland: Narcosis is an IRONCLAD Original. Chapters (00:00:00) Intro (00:00:58) Scott McGregor's Background (00:04:08) China Named a Major Drug Producing Country (00:09:26) The Scope of China's Network in North America (00:14:16) How Precursors Enter Canada (00:17:09) Inside Canada's Domestic Super Labs (00:19:37) Indian Transnational Crime Networks (00:23:00) Iran, Hezbollah, and Organized Crime in Canada (00:26:55) Canada's Limited Law Enforcement Capacity (00:30:15) How Cartels Launder Money Through China (00:35:47) China's Long-Term Goal for Canada and the U.S. (00:38:49) Outro 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. Marek Health: Visit https://marekhealth.com/ and use code IRONCLAD to receive 10% off. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  2. Sep 23

    The Capture of El Mayo Was NOT What It Seemed: The Violent Real FBI Operation That Brought Him Down

    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. You can check out his piece on his Substack : https://substack.com/home/post/p-213457916  Borderland: Narcosis is an IRONCLAD Original. Chapters (00:00) – Cold Open (05:11) – Cartel Torture Tactics (07:06) – The El Mayo Extraction: How It Happened (18:20) – Did the FBI Know? The Cover-Up Questions (22:29) – Why Joaquin Set Up the Kidnapping (26:05) – The Pilot's Fate and Extradition (36:48) – Aftermath: Civil War and 4,000 Dead (44:46) – Cartels Expanding North and Abroad (48:16) – Joe's Next Investigation 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. Marek Health: Visit https://marekhealth.com/ and use code IRONCLAD to receive 10% off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    The Capture of El Mayo Was NOT What It Seemed: The Violent Real FBI Operation That Brought Him Down

  3. Sep 17

    Canada's Cartel Crisis: Assassinations, Extortion & the Bishnoi Gang's Reach (with Kim Bolan)

    Today's guest is Kim Bolan. Kim is an award-winning investigative reporter for the Vancouver Sun, where she has covered gangs and organized crime for over four decades, including the Air India bombing, the Robert Pickton case, and the Surrey Six gangland slaying. She runs the anti-gang blog The Real Scoop and is the author of Loss of Faith: How the Air India Bombers Got Away with Murder. She recently reported on the FBI's Operation Hardball investigation into transnational gangs operating out of Canada. Borderland: Narcosis is an IRONCLAD Original. Chapters (00:00:00) Intro (00:00:40) Operation Hardball the Bishnoi gang investigation (00:02:16) The assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar (00:05:11) The extortion campaign targeting the South Asian community (00:12:48) Ryan Wedding: Olympian turned major trafficker (00:20:10) Rural drug labs, BC Bud, and the meth/fentanyl economy (00:26:41) Why Canada isn't the "Next Mexico" yet (00:30:11) Port corruption and Hells Angels on the docks (00:34:21) Creative smuggling border crossings and hidden compartments (00:40:11) Closing thoughts 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. Marek Health: Visit https://marekhealth.com/ and use code IRONCLAD to receive 10% off The Uprising: From the director of JASON BOURNE, Paul Greengrass brings you THE UPRISING. Andrew Garfield stars as the leader of a ferocious rebellion against the tyranny of King Richard II. Set against the true events of the Uprising that helped inspire the legend of Robin Hood, he forms an army of the people to face the King’s might in a fight for justice. Only in theaters this Thursday. Get tickets. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Canada's Cartel Crisis: Assassinations, Extortion & the Bishnoi Gang's Reach (with Kim Bolan)

  4. Sep 14

    The Cartel War That Turned Zacatecas, Mexico into a WAR ZONE: Katarina Szulc & Vince 'Rocco' Vargas

    Vince “Rocco” Vargas sits down with Katarina Szulc to discuss her recent investigation in Tlaxcala, Mexico (which you can watch here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_rXThHW2xeg ), an uptick in violence in Zacatecas, cartels operating Canada and more. Borderland: Narcosis is an IRONCLAD Original. Chapters (00:00:37) Being chased on camera while reporting in Mexico (00:04:09) The cartel's PR angle and the FTO designation debate (00:06:33) Claudia Sheinbaum's stress and Mexican political intrigue (00:12:38) Car bombings and cartel war in Zacatecas (00:17:10) Hells Angels' role in Canada's drug trade (00:21:23) Why prosecution fails in Canada (00:26:42) Record-low border seizures vs. ongoing drug flow (00:29:22) How smuggling methods have shifted — tunnels, aircraft (00:37:16) What's next for Katarina 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. Marek Health: Visit https://marekhealth.com/ and use code IRONCLAD to receive 10% off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  5. Aug 31

    This Journalist Spent a Month in Cuba: What He Saw Was Shocking

    Today's guest is Sean Williams. Sean is an investigative report whose work has apeared in The New Yorker, Harper’s Magazine, Rolling Stone, GQ, The Daily Beast, The New Republic, Wired, The Economist, The Guardian, Sports Illustrated and many more. He host The Underworld Podcast, a weekly show investigating global organized crime with journalist Danny Gold. He recently spent 4 weeks in Havana investigating the situation there. Borderland: Narcosis 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. Marek Health: Visit https://marekhealth.com/ and use code IRONCLAD to receive 10% off The Uprising: From the director of JASON BOURNE, Paul Greengrass brings you THE UPRISING. Andrew Garfield stars as the leader of a ferocious rebellion against the tyranny of King Richard II. Set against the true events of the Uprising that helped inspire the legend of Robin Hood, he forms an army of the people to face the King’s might in a fight for justice. Now-8/26: Only in theaters September 10. Watch The Trailer. 8/27-9/6: Only in theaters September 10. Get tickets. *9/7-9/9: Only in theaters this Thursday. Get tickets. 9/10-on: Now playing only in theaters. Get tickets. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  6. Aug 25

    How Mexico's Most Dangerous Cartel Quietly Took Over Europe: The CJNG Terrifying Expansion

    Today’s guest is Chris Dalby. He is a journalist and an expert on organized crime and Mexican drug cartels. Chris is the author of World of Crime's Guides to Organized Crime and CJNG: A Quick Guide to Mexico's Deadliest Cartel. He’s also the the director of the World of Crime think tank You can subscribe to his newsletter at seasonsofcrime.com  Borderland: Narcosis is an IRONCLAD Original Chapters 00:00 – Intro 01:11 – CJNG Members Arrested in Czech Republic (Weapons Deal) 07:24 – Precursor Chemicals & Spain's Role in Europe 09:18 – Operation Vanilla: Liquid Meth & Cocaine Smuggling 18:52 – The "Super Cartel" & Europe's Drug Trade Structure 21:23 – CJNG Leadership After El Mencho 23:11 – The "Mexican Batman" Vigilante Story 26:47 – US Strategy in Latin America & the Border 30:09 – How Drugs Are Getting Into the US (Trucking, Mail, Liquid Smuggling) 32:52 – Where to Find Chris Dalby 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. Marek Health: Visit https://marekhealth.com/ and use code IRONCLAD to receive 10% off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    How Mexico's Most Dangerous Cartel Quietly Took Over Europe: The CJNG Terrifying Expansion

  7. Aug 18

    The Midwest Cartels: Former DEA Agent EXPOSES Sinaloa Cartel and CJNG Hubs in Indiana and Chicago

    Michael Gannon is a retired DEA Senior Leader and Assistant Special Agent in Charge, who spent 25 years serving various roles within the Drug Enforcement Administration, including undercover operations and uncovering cartel-connected drug networks in cities including Chicago and Miami. Borderland: Narcosis 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  8. Aug 10

    Valeria Marquez's Livestreamed Murder Suspect Is a CJNG Operative. Does It Add Up?

    Today's guest is Borderland: Dispatches host Katarina Szulc. She's an investigative journalist and tells host Vince 'Rocco' Vargas about her upcoming investigative documentary, the livestreamed murders of influencers Cesar Gastelum and Valeria Márquez, and more. Borderland: Narcosis is an IRONCLAD Original Chapters (00:00) Kat's intro — cartels, organized crime, boots on the ground (11:59) The governor who denies it, the family who profited (15:03) The car chase — gun pulled on the highway (22:21) Mexico: the most dangerous country for journalists (24:01) Valeria Marquez — murdered live on TikTok (30:26) Cesar Gastelum — a second influencer killed on livestream (40:30) Why human trafficking is worse than drug trafficking (48:54) Closing gut-punch 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. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

See All (149)

Trailers

4.6
out of 5
124 Ratings

About

New Episodes Every Monday. An unfiltered look at real stories from America's Southern Border. Each week, special operations combat veteran, actor, writer, and veteran BORSTAR Agent Vincent “Rocco” Vargas sits down with guests to discuss the ruthless forces driving mass migration—organized crime. This season, Borderland: Narcosis takes an unfiltered look at the criminal networks fueling the crisis, from human trafficking and the drug trade to extortion and corruption embedded at every level of society. An IRONCLAD Original

Information

More From IRONCLAD

You Might Also Like