The Rise of a Super Cartel: CJNG’s Reign Across Mexico & Transformation Into a Global Criminal Empire

Borderland: Dispatches with Katarina Szulc - A podcast by IRONCLAD

In this episode of Borderland: Dispatches, Katarina  unpacks how the Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generación (CJNG) has emerged as the dominant force in Mexico’s criminal underworld. From brutal turf wars to high-level corruption and global drug trafficking routes, the CJNG is no longer just another cartel—it’s a paramilitary powerhouse reshaping the entire landscape. Katarina explores how they’ve outpaced rivals, infiltrated local governments, and expanded their reach beyond borders, and what their rise means for U.S. security, Mexican sovereignty, and the future of organized crime. Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original