Mexican Cartels
What drives Mexican Cartels to expand beyond drugs?
4.2 (33)
39 mins
Explore the rise of Mexican cartels since 2006 and how decentralization, globalization, and violence shaped their power. Discover the networks, strategies, and influence that make them a persistent challenge for governments.
Ep 1:
El Chapo and the Fracturing Empire
From a Sinaloa upstart to a Forbes-ranked billionaire, El Chapo built an empire—then Mexico's cartel landscape splintered into hundreds of violent, unpredictable factions.
Ep 2:
Inside the Machinery of Fear
Assassinations, kidnappings, and military-grade weapons fuel a climate of terror in Mexico, where narco banners and microchipped citizens reveal a society gripped by fear.
Ep 3:
The Cartel as Corporation
Cartels operate like ruthless corporations—diversifying into avocados, iron ore, and human smuggling while laundering billions and corrupting officials at every level.
Ep 4:
Sinaloa's Global Reach
The Sinaloa Federation dominates global drug trade routes, from marijuana-laced public lands to American gangs, exposing deep cross-border criminal entanglements.
Ep 5:
Naming the Unnameable Enemy
Are cartels criminals, terrorists, or insurgents? Mexico's failure to properly categorize its enemy fuels a deadly cycle of violence and fragmentation.
Discussions (12)
Daniel
Level 6 · 9 mo agoTerrorist label is a reach
Slade
Level 10 · 8 mo agoForbes really put a cartel boss on their list lol
Lucas
Level 8 · 9 mo agoYeah the business comparison is spot on. They expanded into limes and iron ore just like a Fortune 500.
