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Borderland: Dispatches with Katarina Szulc
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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.
41 Episodes
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On today’s episode, Katarina discusses how criminal networks are exploiting the global live-animal export industry as a new cover for drug trafficking.
Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original
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1On today’s episode, Katarina breaks down the case of Ryan Wedding, a former Olympic snowboarder now wanted by U.S. authorities. She outlines the federal indictment alleging his role in the killing of a cooperating witness in Medellín, his reported ties to the Sinaloa cartel, the drug trafficking network described by investigators, and why the FBI has placed him on its 10 Most Wanted list with a $15 million reward.
Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original
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Producer's Note: While this episode is available on all podcast feeds, it is best experienced as a video either on Spotify or at https://www.youtube.com/@thisisironclad
On today's episode, Katarina goes inside a clandestine rehab center in Tijuana, where residents — including addicts, deportees, and mental health patients — are held against their will. A rare look at a facility few outsiders ever see.
Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original
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Coming soon on Borderland: Dispatches, Katarina goes inside a clandestine rehab center in Tijuana, where residents — including addicts, deportees, and mental health patients — are held against their will. A rare look at a facility few outsiders ever see.
Full episode drops November 20th.
Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original
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On today’s episode, DEA legend Steve Murphy — the man who hunted Pablo Escobar — sits down with Katarina to break down the U.S. Navy’s deadly strikes on cartel drug boats.
Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original
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On today’s episode, Katarina discusses the deadly U.S. boat strike in the Pacific Ocean that killed 14 suspected cartel smugglers. The operation marks a sharp escalation in America’s maritime campaign against drug trafficking — one that started with strikes near Venezuela and is now moving closer to Mexico’s coast.
Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original
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On today’s episode, Katarina breaks down a Reuters report on how Mexican cartels used a “dark fleet” of tankers to traffic billions in stolen fuel — uncovering corruption from Mexico’s ports all the way to U.S. companies.
To access the full report, visit: https://www.reuters.com/investigations/how-dark-fleet-tankers-helped-mexican-cartel-build-fuel-smuggling-empire-2025-10-22/
Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original
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On today’s episode, Katarina breaks down recent U.S. operations in Venezuela, including CIA-authorized strikes on narcotraffickers and paramilitary networks aligned with Nicolás Maduro, which have resulted in 27 reported deaths. She examines the lack of public confirmation about those targeted and how these actions differ from past counter-narcotics operations. Katarina also reviews a DHS warning about Mexican criminal groups offering bounties on federal agents, tracing the intelligence behind the advisory and exploring how the timing of these events may reflect broader U.S. strategy in Latin America and domestic security.
Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original
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This episode is presented by Ground News. Subscribe now and get 40% off the VANTAGE plan by going to https://www.groundnews.com/ironclad or by using the QR code.
On today’s episode, Katarina breaks down the recent “narco-banners” in Mexico that allegedly threaten Americans visiting or living south of the border. Are these real cartel warnings—or something else entirely? Katarina explains why this message doesn’t add up, arguing that the cartels wouldn’t target their biggest customers. Instead, she exposes how these banners may be part of a larger psychological operation aimed at manipulating public perception and escalating fear on both sides of the border.
Borderland is an IRONCLAD ORIGINAL.
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This episode is presented by Ground News. Subscribe now and get 40% off the VANTAGE plan by going to https://www.groundnews.com/ironclad or by using the QR code.
On today’s episode, Katarina travels to Ciudad Juárez to investigate the case of Leslie Godínez, a young mother who disappeared while seven months pregnant and was later found dead. Reports have linked her death to a clandestine cesarean and a baby-trafficking scheme allegedly run by Martha Alicia “La Diabla” and connected to the CJNG.
On the ground in Juárez, Katarina meets with a member of Leslie’s family, who shares their story of her disappearance, the search to find her, and the devastating discovery that followed. The episode explores how the case connects to broader issues of violence against women and cartel exploitation along the border.
Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original
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This episode is presented by Ground News. Subscribe now and get 40% off the VANTAGE plan by going to https://www.groundnews.com/ironclad
On today’s episode, Katarina discusses the discovery of a 25-foot tunnel beneath a vape shop in Laredo, Texas, that investigators believe may be connected to cartel activity. During a joint operation, the DEA and local law enforcement raided the Kush Smoke Emporium and the Tranquility Dispensary, seizing marijuana, cocaine, and hundreds of illegal vape cartridges. Authorities say the tunnel’s purpose is still under investigation, but it highlights how legitimate storefronts can sometimes be linked to illicit operations.
Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original
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On today’s episode, Katarina breaks down the brutal cartel-style execution of Mexican TikTok influencer Esmeralda Ferrer Garibay, her husband, and their two children. Found wrapped in plastic and abandoned in a pickup truck in Guadalajara, their murders raise questions about the dangerous intersection of social media fame and cartel violence.
Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original
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On today’s episode, Katarina follows up on her report about the CJNG cartel targeting pregnant women. Stefano Ritondale from @AllSourceNews joins to provide additional details on the buyers involved in this illicit trade.
Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original
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In this episode, Katarina joins a Gary, Indiana police officer on patrol along the major highways that connect Illinois and Indiana—routes that have become critical corridors for drug trafficking across the Midwest. Together, they explore how cartels move narcotics through America’s heartland, and the challenges law enforcement faces in stopping them.
Borderland is an IRONCLAD ORIGINAL
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On today’s episode, Katarina investigates new allegations in Ciudad Juárez, where women have long faced violence at the hands of cartels. Recent reports suggest that pregnant women are being specifically targeted, with claims that the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) is involved in trafficking their unborn children. Katarina looks into these disturbing accounts, the history of femicides in Juárez, and what this new angle reveals about cartel operations on the border.
Borderland is an IRONCLAD ORIGINAL
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On today’s episode, Katarina discusses Mexico’s transfer of 26 cartel members to the United States in a high-stakes deal with the Trump administration. The move, which included figures from the Sinaloa Cartel, CJNG, and Knights Templar, was celebrated as a win against organized crime, but also raised questions about political pressure, trade threats, and Mexico’s sovereignty. Katarina unpacks the motivations behind the deal, the implications for U.S.-Mexico relations, and what this unprecedented wave of extraditions reveals about the evolving fight against the cartels.
Borderland is an IRONCLAD ORIGINAL
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On today’s episode, Katarina breaks down Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum’s clear rejection of U.S. military operations on Mexican soil. This follows reports that President Trump signed a secret directive authorizing military action against drug cartels in Latin America.
Sheinbaum’s stance underscores Mexico’s insistence on sovereignty despite ongoing security cooperation with the U.S. The episode examines the impact of this tension on bilateral relations and regional security dynamics.
Borderland is an IRONCLAD ORIGINAL
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On today’s episode, Katarina discusses: the arrest of Sinaloa Cartel leader Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada and the 17 charges he faces in U.S. federal court.
Also in focus: the DOJ’s decision not to pursue the death penalty for Zambada, Rafael Caro Quintero, and Vicente Carrillo Fuentes—opening the door to plea deals and potential cooperation.
Plus, updates on Ovidio Guzmán López’s guilty plea and what these developments could mean for future cartel prosecutions.
Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original
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On today’s episode, Katarina breaks down how Latin American criminal groups have exploited Ukraine’s warzone to gain advanced FPV drone training. In 2025, Mexico’s National Intelligence Center warned Ukraine’s security services that individuals from Mexico and Colombia were joining the International Legion under false identities—not to fight, but to train.
A joint investigation revealed that some Spanish-speaking recruits, including ex-GAFE and former FARC members, focused solely on drone warfare. One operative, “Águila-7,” impressed instructors with his technical skills before disappearing, later linked to Mexican cartel networks.
Through PMC-style logistics and forged documents, these operatives gained access to elite training centers. Ukrainian officials now acknowledge the risk of drone tactics spreading to organized crime and have launched countermeasures with international partners. The episode explores how a battlefield became a training ground for a new kind of warfare.
Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original
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On today’s episode, Katarina is joined by a former intelligence analyst to break down how the Chinese Communist Party uses community associations, tech companies, student groups, and overseas police stations to extend its influence in Western countries. Together, they explore the role of fentanyl supply chains, financial entanglements with U.S. elites, and how historical lessons from the Opium Wars shape modern CCP strategy. This episode explores the subtle but far-reaching tactics of political, economic, and societal infiltration.
Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original
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