Borderland: Dispatches with Katarina Szulc

IRONCLAD
IRONCLAD
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Cartel violence. Kidnappings. Disappearances. The headlines don’t tell the full story. Borderland: Dispatches, an IRONCLAD Original, delivers raw, on-the-ground updates from Mexico’s cartel war. Hosted by investigative journalist Katarina Szulc, the series offers real-time snapshots of a conflict reshaping the future of both Mexico and the U.S. With rare access to traffickers, law enforcement, and civilians caught in the crossfire, these fast-moving episodes expose the brutal truth behind the drug war. New dispatches drop every Thursday.

  1. Jul 10

    Are Cartel Drone Operators Training on the Ukraine Frontlines? Katarina Szulc Investigates

    On the latest Borderland: Dispatches film, Katarina Szulc travels to the frontlines of the war in Ukraine to investigate reports that Mexican cartel sicarios and operatives are traveling to Ukraine to learn FPV drone combat. Borderland: Dispatches is an IRONCLAD Original Chapters (00:00:00) Intro (00:01:42) Mexico's cartels infiltrate Ukraine's foreign fighter program (00:04:53) Meeting a volunteer 3D-printing bombs (00:09:39) The four layers of background checks (00:12:17) The case of "Aguilar Siete" (00:17:54) Mexico's escalating cartel drone attacks SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/borderland-dispatches-with-katarina-szulc/id1814920364 SUBSCRIBE ON SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/7EvQ4S8NnDqqSdCRhZvPaI?si=ea91d3147b6b46bc Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Are Cartel Drone Operators Training on the Ukraine Frontlines? Katarina Szulc Investigates

  2. Jun 18

    The New Era of Cartel Warfare — How Modern Wars Are Reshaping Cartels

    Producer's Note: Enjoy this interview from Katarina's appearance on the IRONCLAD Original, Borderland: Narcosis with Vincent "Rocco" Vargas. On today’s episode, Vince welcomes back Katarina Szulc, investigative journalist and host of the Ironclad Original, Borderland: Dispatches. Kat shares insights from her recent reporting in Ukraine, where authorities are investigating claims that foreign fighters with cartel ties traveled to the front lines to learn modern combat tactics before returning to Latin America. The conversation also explores foreign mercenaries in Ukraine, the evolution of cartel warfare, U.S. pressure on cartel leadership, corruption in Mexico, and what these developments could mean for the future of organized crime. Borderland: Dispatches is an IRONCLAD Original Chapters: (00:00) Introduction (01:44) Cartels, Ukraine, and FPV Drone Warfare (03:26) The Colombian Connection & Drone Schools in Lviv (09:52) American Mercenaries & Background Checks on the Front Lines (11:33) Gamers vs. Combat: How Simple is FPV Drone Flying? (15:24) Behind the Scenes of the Global Mercenary Recruitment Machine (25:06) US Boots on the Ground & The Standoff over Drone Strikes in Mexico (29:51) Cartel Corruption & Political Gaslighting in Sinaloa (34:22) The 2026 World Cup: A Cartel Moneymaker? (47:17) 2026 Wrap-Up: The Year of the Fallen Kingpins & The Endless Drug War Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  3. Trailer

    The Front Line of Modern Warfare — Inside Ukraine's Most Dangerous Underground Operation (Preview)

    Producer's note: This is a preview of next week's full episode of Borderland: Dispatches. For the full visual experience, watch on Spotify Video or on the IRONCLAD YouTube channel: youtube.com/@thisisironclad On Katarina's latest investigation, she gains rare access to an undisclosed location in Ukraine where civilian volunteers are illegally 3D-printing bombs for the front lines, and infiltrates a drone school where foreign fighters from around the world are training in FPV warfare. Borderland: Dispatches is an IRONCLAD Original Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  4. May 29

    America vs CJNG: Guatemala Approves Massive Joint U.S. Strike Operations On Cartels

    In this episode of Borderland Dispatches, Katarina breaks down a major shift in the drug war as Guatemala secretly agrees to joint U.S. airstrikes and military operations against regional cartels. Dive into the escalating pressure on Mexico’s sovereignty, the violent battle for the Guatemala-Chiapas trafficking corridor, and the growing influence of CJNG. Borderland: Dispatches is an IRONCLAD Original SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/borderland-dispatches-with-katarina-szulc/id1814920364 SUBSCRIBE ON SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/7EvQ4S8NnDqqSdCRhZvPaI?si=ea91d3147b6b46bc Sponsor: Watch Pressure in theaters starting May 29th. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  5. May 21

    Los Chapitos FINISHED? The Endgame of the Sinaloa Cartel Civil War Coming?

    Katarina Szulc speaks with Stefano Ritondale of All Source News about the what’s next for Los Chapitos and the Sinaloa Cartel Civil War. Borderland: Dispatches is an IRONCLAD Original Sponsor: Watch Pressure in theaters starting May 29th. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  6. May 14

    Sheinbaum Is Panicking — Why the US Is Dismantling Her Cartel-Connected Politicians

    On today's episode, Katarina breaks down the US crackdown on Mexico's narco-politicians, including the indictment of Sinaloa's governor and the mayor of Culiacán, and what it means for President Claudia Sheinbaum. Borderland: Dispatches is an IRONCLAD Original Sponsors: 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

  7. May 8

    Inside Russia's Foreign Mercenary Pipeline — The Ukrainian POW Camp Holding Putin's Recruits

    Producer's note: This is a preview of next week's full episode of Borderland: Dispatches. For the full visual experience, watch on Spotify Video or on the IRONCLAD YouTube channel: youtube.com/@thisisironclad In this episode of Borderland Dispatches, Katarina Szulc gains rare access to a Ukrainian POW camp at an undisclosed location near Lviv. With permission from Ukraine's Ministry of Defense, she walks the carpentry workshop, the canteen, and the library, and speaks directly with the men captured fighting alongside Russia, including foreign mercenaries from across the globe and a forcibly mobilized Ukrainian who has been held for over two years. Borderland Dispatches is an iRONCLAD Original  Sponsors:  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 Credited sources, no changes were made: https://www.facebook.com/DSNS.GOV.UA/videos/477194580536446/  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  8. Trailer

    Foreign POWs Held in Ukraine: Katarina Goes Inside the Prison Camp (PREVIEW)

    Producer's note: This is a preview of next week's full episode of Borderland: Dispatches. For the full visual experience, watch on Spotify Video or on the IRONCLAD YouTube channel: youtube.com/@thisisironclad In an exclusive Borderland: Dispatches investigation, Katarina Szulc gains rare access to a Ukrainian POW camp near Lviv, a facility so sensitive its location is hidden from the public. Inside, she meets the men captured fighting alongside Russia: foreign mercenaries lured by false promises of citizenship, forcibly mobilized Ukrainians, and Russian soldiers who surrendered on the front lines. It's an unprecedented look inside one of the most guarded corners of the war. Borderland: Dispatches is an IRONCLAD Original Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Cartel violence. Kidnappings. Disappearances. The headlines don’t tell the full story. Borderland: Dispatches, an IRONCLAD Original, delivers raw, on-the-ground updates from Mexico’s cartel war. Hosted by investigative journalist Katarina Szulc, the series offers real-time snapshots of a conflict reshaping the future of both Mexico and the U.S. With rare access to traffickers, law enforcement, and civilians caught in the crossfire, these fast-moving episodes expose the brutal truth behind the drug war. New dispatches drop every Thursday.

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