Matthew Cox | Inside True Crime Podcast This Former Cartel Operative Says This Is Destroying America
Jan 12, 2026
Pierre Rausini, a former cartel operative, shares his insights on the Jalisco New Generation cartel, highlighting its unique threats to both Mexico and the U.S. He explains how fentanyl has altered cartel economics and led to deadlier products in the U.S. market. Pierre also discusses the cartel's diverse operations, including extortion and smuggling innovations like drones and catapults. Additionally, he reveals the political power derived from cartel profits and underscores the challenges in U.S.-Mexico cooperation.
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Terror Designation As Leverage
- U.S. policymakers are considering labeling New Generation as a terrorist organization to criminalize any U.S. facilitation.
- That designation would raise penalties dramatically and force cooperation from lower-level facilitators.
Use Legal Designation To Cut Support
- Designating cartels as terrorists would raise penalties and force cooperation from lower-level U.S.-based facilitators.
- That legal lever could be used to break supply chains and incentivize informants.
Extortion Of Trade Is A Cash Cow
- The cartel taxes cross-border trade, extorting trucks at ports of entry and extracting fees from maquiladoras.
- Even modest per-truck fees scale into tens of millions daily, rivaling drug profits.
