On today’s episode, Vince sits down with Sean Williams, investigative journalist and host of The Underworld Podcast, to discuss the explosive growth of global drug cartels. They explore New Zealand’s soaring cocaine use, the rise of foreign cartel influence, and the role of Chinese triads in money laundering. A highlight is the Sinaloa Cartel’s use of submarines to smuggle drugs, showing how cartels have become global operations exploiting routes like the Pacific drug highway. They also discuss law enforcement corruption, Western governments’ underestimation of the threat, and the urgent need for international cooperation. Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/borderland-narcosis-with-vincent-rocco-vargas/id1730589324 Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6w9YAIljxWKXsetl10w9Qp?si=8a5eb53e12b74e3a SPONSORS: 1stPhorm visit: https://www.1stphorm.com/borderland Free shipping through this link on any orders over $75 Free 30 days in the app for new customers (offer comes via email after the purchase) 110% money back guarantee on all of our products. We believe fully in our products. If you don’t love the product or you aren’t getting the results you hoped for, let us know and we’ll give you your money back … plus 10%! CHAPTERS: 00:00:00 Challenges of Tracking Spying Vessels in the Pacific 00:02:26 Investigating Drug Cartels and Gangs in New Zealand 00:04:37 The Hidden Influence of Latin American Cartels in New Zealand 00:06:52 The Rising Costs and Profits of Cocaine in New Zealand 00:09:20 CJNG's Global Expansion: Markets and Strategies 00:11:47 Australia and New Zealand's 501 Deportation Policy 00:14:05 The Golden Triangle and Its Lawless History 00:16:34 Evolution of the Drug Trade: From Opium to Synthetics 00:18:50 Exploring Unknown Pacific Islands 00:21:11 Shipping Route Challenges and Political Avoidance 00:23:26 The Transnational Expansion of Drug Cartels 00:25:49 Rising Cocaine Use: A 92% Increase 00:28:16 The Influence of Cartels and Alleged Forced Suicides 00:30:41 Rising Influence of Chinese Triad and Cartel Alliances 00:32:54 The Expansion of Chinese Money Laundering Networks 00:35:22 Escalating Drug Crisis in Fiji 00:37:56 The Hidden Dangers for Journalists in Mexico 00:40:37 Rise of Synthetic Opioids in New Zealand 00:42:59 Challenges in Tracking Smuggling Operations at Sea 00:45:24 Global Influence of Criminal Syndicates 00:47:34 The Rise of Drug Addiction in New Zealand 00:50:04 Economic Solutions to Tackle Terrorism and Drug Trade 00:52:18 Illegal Smuggling and Immigration Challenges