Following the fall of El Mencho, CJNG’s transition of power has been far more seamless than many expected. In this episode, Katarina breaks down the rise of El 03, a U.S.-born successor with deep ties to the Valencia narco dynasty, and what his emergence reveals about cartel succession, family power networks, and the long-term effectiveness of the kingpin strategy.

Borderland: Dispatches is an IRONCLAD Original

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Episode details and artwork are published by the show’s own feed. Sentinel plays short cited excerpts and links every episode back to its publisher.

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CJNG’s Next Chapter: The American Citizen Now Leading the Cartel

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Katarina Szulc Episodes Around April 9, 2026

BONUS: Venezuela in the Wake of Maduro's Capture (with Ioan Grillo)

The Tech Behind Venezuela’s Government — In the Wake of Maduro’s Arrest

Investigating the Colombia–Venezuela Border After Maduro’s Capture (featuring Ioan Grillo)

Inside the Colombia–Venezuela Border — Exposing Organized Crime Behind Drugs, Fuel, and Smuggling

BREAKING: Inside the Operation That Brought Ryan Wedding Back to the US

Ryan Wedding, Cartels, Kidnapping Risks, and Behind the Scenes of Reporting | Q&A Part 1

Death Threats, CJNG, Rolling Stones, and What's Next for Dispatches | Q&A Part 2

Cartel Slaughter: Innocent Miners Kidnapped & Murdered in Extortion Shake Down

Announcement from Katarina: Preview of Her Latest Investigation in Montana

The Cartel Crisis at America’s Northern Border — Narcos Target Tribal Lands

El Mencho Is Dead — But the Crime Scene Raises Questions

Iran and Chinese Migrants Using VIP Cartel Smuggling Routes — Security Risks in the U.S.

Inside El Mencho’s Compound After the Raid: What the Scene Reveals

On the Ground in Jalisco, Mexico: Inside the Ongoing Threat of CJNG Violence

The New Cartel War Is Happening in U.S. Federal Court

CJNG’s Next Chapter: The American Citizen Now Leading the Cartel

Mexico’s Narco Governors — The Power Behind the Cartels

Inside The CIA's Secret Cartel War — And The Raid That Killed 2 Officers

Foreign POWs Held in Ukraine: Katarina Goes Inside the Prison Camp (PREVIEW)

Inside Russia's Foreign Mercenary Pipeline — The Ukrainian POW Camp Holding Putin's Recruits

Sheinbaum Is Panicking — Why the US Is Dismantling Her Cartel-Connected Politicians

Los Chapitos FINISHED? The Endgame of the Sinaloa Cartel Civil War Coming?

America vs CJNG: Guatemala Approves Massive Joint U.S. Strike Operations On Cartels

The Front Line of Modern Warfare — Inside Ukraine's Most Dangerous Underground Operation (Preview)

The New Era of Cartel Warfare — How Modern Wars Are Reshaping Cartels

Summary