Borderland: Dispatches with Katarina Szulc

Katarina is on the ground in Mexico, inside the compound of El Mencho just days after the reported raid that killed him.

But something doesn’t add up.

As she walks the scene, the physical evidence doesn’t match the official story, raising serious questions about what actually happened during the operation.

This is a raw, firsthand look at the aftermath and the inconsistencies that could change the narrative.

Borderland Dispatches is an IRONCLAD Original

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On this episode, Katarina sits down with independent journalist Jorge Ventura to discuss his exclusive reporting on cartel smuggling networks along the California border.

He explains how migrants from the Middle East and China are being smuggled through Mexico via high-cost “VIP” routes, often coordinated through hotels, mosques, and encrypted communications. He also details emerging national security concerns, including individuals classified as special interest aliens and potential sleeper cells in the United States.

Borderland Dispatches is an IRONCLAD Original

Sponsors:

GHOSTBED:

Go to https://www.GhostBed.com/IRONCLAD and use code IRONCLAD for an extra 15% off sitewide.

Norwood Sawmills:

Learn more about Norwood Sawmills and how you can start milling your own lumber at https://norwoodsawmills.com/
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On today’s episode, Katarina just returned from Jalisco, where she visited the cabin compound where CJNG leader El Mencho was reportedly killed. She shares what she saw on the ground and previews her upcoming full report.

Borderland: Dispatches is an IRONCLAD Original

Sponsors:

GHOSTBED:

Go to https://www.GhostBed.com/IRONCLAD and use code IRONCLAD for an extra 15% off sitewide.

Norwood Sawmills:

Learn more about Norwood Sawmills and how you can start milling your own lumber at https://norwoodsawmills.com/

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On today's episode, Katarina reports from Montana’s northern border near the Blackfeet Nation, where vast stretches of open land are being exploited for drug and human trafficking.

She’s joined by former game warden John Nores, who spent decades confronting cartel operations on public and tribal lands.

Katarina also shares the story of Marla Ollinger, a grandmother who tragically lost both of her children to fentanyl and now raises her grandchildren while navigating the dangers and fallout of the ongoing crisis in rural and tribal communities.

Borderland: Dispatches is an IRONCLAD Original

Chapters:

(00:00) Introduction: The Fentanyl Crisis in Montana

(01:25) A Mother's Heartbreak: Marla's Story of Loss

(07:07) Breaking the Cycle: Raising the Grandkids

(09:17) The Vulnerable Northern Border

(14:02) Smuggling Routes and Environmental Destruction

(16:11) The Law Enforcement Challenge: Complex Jurisdictions

(18:56) Anonymous Interview with a Tribal Police Officer

Sponsors:

GHOSTBED:

Go to https://www.GhostBed.com/IRONCLAD and use code IRONCLAD for an extra 15% off sitewide.

Norwood Sawmills:

Learn more about Norwood Sawmills and how you can start milling your own lumber at https://norwoodsawmills.com/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On next week's episode, Katarina reports from the northern border in Montana near the Blackfeet Nation, where vast stretches of open land along the U.S.–Canada border are being used for drug and human trafficking.

To watch the trailer, visit: https://youtu.be/lHDu8HXXD8k

Borderland: Dispatches is an IRONCLAD Original

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