26 Best Cartel Podcasts to Listen to (2026)

*** Following the sentencing of Cartel lieutenant Sean McGovern to 24 years in jail, the family of Noel Kirwan speak exclusively to the Kinahans Downfall podcast. Two brand new episodes are released on June 9th and June 11th *** In February 2016, a hit-team of 6 men burst through the doors of a boxing weigh-in at Dublin's Regency Hotel. There, a Kinahan Cartel lieutenant named David Byrne, was shot point blank in the head. The attack took place in front of a room packed full of sportspeople, media and civilians including young children. From that moment on, Irish gangland would never be the same again. The Kinahan's is a new true crime series from The Irish Sun telling the complete story of Ireland's most feared crime family. The podcast looks at how a middle class man and his two sons from Dublin, became Europes biggest drugs cartel. We also look at what comes next for the cartel, as they continue to evade The FBI, An Garda Síochána, Interpol and a number of other police services globally. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. more

Cartel violence. Kidnappings. Disappearances. The headlines don't tell the full story.Borderland: Dispatches, an IRONCLAD Original, delivers raw, on-the-ground updates from Mexico's cartel war. Hosted by investigative journalist Katarina Szulc, the series offers real-time snapshots of a conflict reshaping the future of both Mexico and the U.S.With rare access to traffickers, law enforcement, and civilians caught in the crossfire, these fast-moving episodes expose the brutal truth behind the drug war.New dispatches drop every Thursday. more

Step into the hidden world of drug cartels with 'Narcology.' In this gripping podcast, we delve deep into the culture, the ideas, and the minds behind the most notorious drug organizations. Explore the intricate networks, power dynamics, and stories that define the shadowy realm of narco-trafficking. Each episode offers a profound look inside the operations, motivations, and impacts of these powerful cartels. Join us for an eye-opening journey into a world where law, crime, and survival intersect in the most dramatic ways. more

If the US Government asked you to move to Colombia to hunt down the world's most brutal narco-terrorist, what would you say? Real Narcos meets the real DEA agents tasked with bringing down some of history's most notorious criminal masterminds - from the King of Cocaine, Pablo Escobar, to the most powerful drug trafficker on the planet, El Chapo. For ad-free listening, bonus content, and early access to new episodes across the Noiser podcast network, join Noiser+. Click the subscription banner at the top of the feed or go to noiser.com/subscriptions to get started. For advertising enquiries, email ****@adelicious.fm No part of this podcast may be used or reproduced in any manner for the purpose of training artificial intelligence technologies or systems. In accordance with Article 4(3) of the DSM Directive 2019/790, Noiser Ltd expressly reserves this work from the text and data mining exception. more

Welcome to the Sit Down, a crime history podcast that delves into the long obsessed archives of crime. Weekly, we look at the sinister and evil lives of the world's most ruthless people. Ones that are both alive and dead. Everything from the Mafia, to the drug trade, cartels, terrorists, war criminals, serial killers, white collar criminals and more. Hosted by Jeff Nadu. more

Hosted by veteran crime reporter, documentarian, and award-winning author Scott Burnstein, Original Gangsters Podcast tells the current and past stories of La Cosa Nostra, one percent biker clubs, drug cartels, Canadian crime, urban crime, and more, with insightful analysis and educated commentary. Each week, Scott sits down with former gangsters, journalists, authors, law enforcement members, and lawyers to deep dive a specific topic, figure, or group in organized crime. Simply put, Original Gangsters Podcast is the ultimate place for organized crime news and history. more

(English, Español) Imagine if Frank Sinatra went on stage every night with a gun in his waistband. Or if Tupac got into a shootout on stage at a rodeo. Well, Chalino Sánchez did just that. In this podcast, we examine the extraordinary life of the 'King of Corridos,' and attempt to unravel the mystery of his death. Chalino's story, his own narcocorrido, is the ultimate ride through the drug cartel world, the underbelly of the Mexican-American music industry and a murder mystery for the ages. Imagínate que Juan Gabriel se subiera al escenario cada noche con una pistola en la cintura. O que Babo, el del Cartel de Santa, se agarrara a plomazos sobre el escenario con alguien del público. Ese era Chalino Sánchez. En este podcast examinamos la extraordinaria vida del 'Rey de los Corridos', e intentamos resolver el misterio de su muerte. La historia de Chalino, su propio narcocorrido, es un viaje a través del mundo de los cárteles de droga, el mundo de la industria musical Mexicano-Americana y un asesinato sin resolver para la posteridad. Hosted by Erick Galindo in English. Conducido por Alejandro Mendoza en español.  more

Underworld exposes the secret world of transnational criminal networks that have flourished since there were banks to bust, drugs to smuggle, and scams to run. Journalists Danny Gold and Sean Williams bring their experience reporting on dangerous people and organizations to take listeners on a global tour of mobsters, warlords and crooks - from Brooklyn to Beijing, from the streets to the boardrooms - and everywhere in between. Underworld is a show about heroes, villains, and the barely visible mafias that affect all our lives, whether we know it or not. more

Former drug trafficker and standup comedian Johnny Mitchell takes you inside the world of drugs, crime, prison, and the politics of the War on Drugs. more

As Sinaloa cartel leader Joaquín 'El Chapo' Guzmán goes on trial, VICE News explores his high-stakes case through the stories of people caught up in the drug war in the U.S. and Mexico. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. more

The tall-but-true tale of a charismatic outlaw, an iconic small-town sheriff, and the record-setting drug bust that ensnared them both. Set in the rugged Texas borderlands, host Rob D'Amico transports listeners back to U.S. side of the border for the opening salvo of the War on Drugs … where so much dirty money was swirling across the Rio Grande that even the most incorruptible citizens would be tempted. In the tradition of films like No Country for Old Men and Charles Portis novels, Witnessed: Borderlands mashes up the shockingly real and the deeply surreal, chronicling not just the events of a crime, but digging deep into the mystery and aura of one of America's most myth-soaked regions.Witnessed: Borderlands is part of The Binge - subscribe to listen to all episodes, all at once, ad-free right now. From serial killer nurses to psychic scammers The Binge is your home for true crime stories that pull you in and never let go. Follow The Binge Crimes and The Binge Cases wherever you get your podcasts to get new stories on the first of the month, every month. Hit 'Subscribe' at the top of the Witnessed: Borderlands show page on Apple Podcasts or visit GetTheBinge.com. The Binge feed your true crime obsession.A Sony Music Entertainment & Campside Media production.Find out more about The Binge and other podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow us @sonypodcasts. more

New Episodes Every Monday. An unfiltered look at real stories from America's Southern Border. Each week, special operations combat veteran, actor, writer, and veteran BORSTAR Agent Vincent 'Rocco' Vargas sits down with guests to discuss the ruthless forces driving mass migration—organized crime.This season, Borderland: Narcosis takes an unfiltered look at the criminal networks fueling the crisis, from human trafficking and the drug trade to extortion and corruption embedded at every level of society. An IRONCLAD Original more

Inside the global cocaine industry, where profits are counted up in millions and losses measured out in murders. This worldwide investigation from The Times, Sunday Times and NewsCorp Australia, reveals how the drug business works like any multi-billion dollar corporation. Cocaine Inc. is hosted by Fiona Hamilton, chief reporter at The Times, David Collins, northern editor at The Sunday Times, and Stephen Drill, national correspondent at News Corp Australia. Follow so you never miss an episode. To listen ad-free subscribe to Crime X+ To find out more visit cocaineinc.com.au Get in touch: ****@thetimes.co.uk Visit us on socials: Crime X+: Instagram , TikTok and Facebook The Times: Instagram , TikTok and Facebook more

Based on actual events. A drug smuggler finds God, and turns against the cartel, working as an undercover operative to take them down from the inside. Based on Dr. Hal Bradley's book, 'A Fox In The Lion's Den' - you can find all of Dr. Hal Bradley's books at http://drhalbradley.com more

Innocent people are getting murdered. Lawyers live in safehouses, and a princess is in hiding. This is Europe today—it just might be the world's next narco-state. Over the past decade, the historic European ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp have turned into global gateways for cocaine. Think Miami in the 1980s — but with even more drugs, and much shittier weather. In this six-part podcast series from Brazen, host Mitchell Prothero explores Europe's cocaine crisis through the dramatic stories of cartel leaders, cops, journalists, and the victims caught in the middle. From RPG attacks on newspaper offices to the slaughter of entire families, the war on drugs has arrived on Europe's shores. And a lot of people are making a lot of dirty money. Reporting from Antwerp and Amsterdam, Brazen goes deep inside this crazy under-reported story. Gateway is a Project Brazen production. For more fearless storytelling, search for the Brazen channel on Apple Podcasts or visit brazen.fm, home to all our podcasts, documentaries and newsletters. At Brazen, we show you how the world really works from espionage and corruption to deal-making and organised crime, we'll take you inside stories from hidden worlds. Don't stay in the dark. Subscribe to Brazen+ on Apple Podcasts or at brazen.fm/plus and get exclusive bonus episodes, as well as ad-free listening and early access to new shows. For the latest from Brazen delivered straight to your inbox, subscribe to our newsletters at brazen.fm/newsletters.Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://brazen.fm/plus/ more

An in-depth analysis of the 1985 murder of DEA Agent Enrique Camarena and the various conspiracy theories relating to his death, as well as the rebuttal to many of those theories in the newly published true crime novel Someone Had to Die. Subsequent seasons will also discuss other conspiracies, historical anomalies, and peculiar events and occurrences. more

Reporting on crime, drugs, and gangster politics, and the people who live and die through it, with journalist Ioan Grillo more

*Our content is bilingual | Nuestro contenido es bilingüe. Drawing on field research, local sources, and expert voices, InSight Crime tells the human stories behind organized crime in Latin America and the Caribbean, explaining how criminal networks operate, how they impact countries and communities, and why these dynamics continue to shape the region. Visit our web site for more: insightcrime.org more

Narco Talk pulls back the curtain on Mexico's cartels, criminal networks, and the underground economy. Hosted by investigative journalist Mica Treviño of Cartel Insider, each episode delivers unvarnished, on-the-ground insights into ongoing conflicts, shifting power dynamics, and the real stories behind the headlines. No fluff—just facts. more

Sal Martinez - Host of Border Static: NARC Agent StoriesSal Martinez is a former Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper and DEA Special Agent with 15 years of law enforcement experience on the front lines of America's war on drugs. During his career with the DEA, Sal worked undercover in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico during the height of the Juárez Cartel's reign—one of the most dangerous assignments in modern law enforcement history.He is the author of 'NARC: Convictions of an Undercover Agent,' a gripping memoir that chronicles his experiences infiltrating drug cartels, the moral complexities of undercover work, and his unique perspective on both sides of the criminal justice system.  www.narc-agent.comOn Border Static, Sal shares real stories from his career—the operations, the close calls, the people he met, and the cases that changed him. He also breaks down trending crime stories in the news, offering the kind of insider analysis only a former DEA agent can provide. No Hollywood dramatization. No Wikipedia research. Just raw, authentic truth from someone who lived it.Sal currently owns and operates Freedom Bail Bonds, serving families in Atascosa, Wilson and Live Oak counties in South Texas. more

A podcast for cops. Welcome to the Narc Talk Podcast.Produced by the Arizona Narcotic Officers Association (ANOA), this podcast goes behind the yellow tape to deliver essential, real-world education on narcotics trafficking right here in Arizona. From the front lines of the fentanyl crisis to the shifting strategies of dangerous drug cartels, we dive deep into the substances impacting our communities and the true violence that surrounds them. Whether you are in law enforcement, a community leader, or a concerned citizen, Narc Talk brings you the raw facts, expert insights, and critical awareness needed to understand and combat the drug epidemic.Connect with us at ****@aznoa.org. more

The rise and fall of the cocaine king who at his peak earned $70 million a day, killed thousands, ran for Colombian congress, and bombed an airliner. From smuggling stereos to inventing the modern narcotics pipeline. His war with the Cali Cartel, the assassination of presidential candidate Luis Carlos Galán, the Palace of Justice siege, La Catedral prison he built for himself, the Search Bloc, and the rooftop death in Medellín in December 1993. Colombia has never been the same. — a daily series with new episodes every day. more

The Culture of Criminal Cool follows the true story of Adam Diaz—a kid from the beaches of the Dominican Republic who rose to become a top earner for the Medellín cartel during the cocaine boom of 1980s New York, moving millions each week while navigating violence, loyalty, and the constant threat of collapse. Hosted by Ash Adams, whose background in film and storytelling brings a sharp, cinematic lens to real-life crime, the series pulls you inside Diaz's world through firsthand accounts of his rise, his near-fatal mistakes, and the decisions that defined him—from gunfights in the street to high-stakes deals that blurred the line between survival and self-destruction. But this isn't just a crime story—it's an unflinching look at the mindset behind it all, and the uncomfortable truth that the line between who we are… and who we could become… is thinner than we think.An Evio ProductionCreated by Ash AdamsProduced by Ash Adams & Branden MorganProduced by Patrick PankratzRecorded live at Cabretta Beach, Dominican Republic andBellaire Studios in Los Angeles, California more

The Most Wanted Olympian is an official 2026 Tribeca Festival Winner. The full podcast is coming this November to Uncover and Suspicion. How did a small town Canadian boy allegedly become a narco kingpin? Ryan Wedding was once a promising young athlete, a snowboarder who reached the Olympics. Now captured after a decade on the run, he's accused of running a deadly international drug trafficking empire. In this new podcast from CBC and the Toronto Star, host Michelle Shephard and journalist Calvi Leon trace Wedding's descent into a violent criminal underworld. From his beginnings at his family ski hill outside Thunder Bay, to Toronto and the shocking murders he's accused of ordering, to Mexico where he was believed to be protected by the notorious Sinaloa Cartel, they uncover his illicit connections and the stories behind the victims caught in the crossfire.Featuring on-the-ground reporting and original interviews, this podcast investigates the Canadian who the FBI called a 'modern day El Chapo' and asks: what will it take to bring him to justice? more

Colombia's history is a tapestry of pre-Columbian civilizations, Spanish conquest, independence struggles, and a modern era defined by violence and resilience. From the Muisca confederation and the legend of El Dorado to the brutal conquest led by Gonzalo Jiménez de Quesada, Lucas and Luna trace the roots of a nation forged in gold and blood. The colonial era under the Viceroyalty of New Granada gave way to the revolutionary visions of Simón Bolívar and Francisco de Paula Santander, whose rivalries shaped the Gran Colombia experiment. The 19th century saw a cascade of civil wars—the Thousand Days' War (1899 1902) and the rise of coffee as an economic backbone. The 20th century brings La Violencia (1948 1958), a bipartisan slaughter that killed hundreds of thousands, and the fragile National Front pact. Then come the drug cartels: Pablo Escobar's Medellín Cartel, the Cali Cartel, and the ensuing narco-state that entangled guerrillas (FARC, ELN), paramilitaries, and the U.S. War on Drugs. The show examines peace processes, the 2016 accord, and the ongoing struggle for justice amid coca, corruption, and displacement. Through archaeological sites like San Agustín, colonial gems like Cartagena, and modern cities like Medellín, Lucas and Luna unpack how Colombia's past pulses in its present. This is not a simple story of violence; it is one of adaptation, culture, and the enduring search for paz.#Colombia #SouthAmerica #FexingoHistory #History #WorldHistory #Podcast #PabloEscobar #FARC #LaViolencia #SimNBolVar #GranColombia #Muisca #ElDorado #Coffee #NarcoState #PeaceProcess #Cartagena #MedellinKeep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo more

Major organized crime busts from initial investigation through dramatic raids and arrests. Each episode follows one multi-year operation targeting drug cartels, mafia families, or international criminal networks. Features agents, prosecutors, and informants explaining how years of surveillance and infiltration lead to coordinated takedowns that dismantle entire criminal enterprises. more