cartels on Vice

Fringes

The Warrior State

Guerrero is one of the poorest states in Mexico and the site of some of the worst violence in the battle between the drug cartels and Mexican authorities. As a result of the violence, hundreds of civilians have armed themselves with machetes, rifles, and shotguns, put masks on, and decided to police their own communities, effectively taking justice into their own hands. Full story

Mexicalia

The Messenger Angels of Ciudad Juárez

For the past three years, a group of teenagers calling themselves the Messenger Angels have been taking to the streets of Ciudad Juárez covered in silver paint and glitter, wearing thick white robes and huge feathered wings, and holding hand-painted signs that address the cops, t… Full story

The New Narco-Cash Laundering World Bank

Holding a tight shot on the unconscionable transgressions of British banking giant HSBC risks blotting out the bigger problem: Systemic interbank money laundering has ruthless drug cartels, notorious despots, and blind-eye banking executives working in a sort of blooden triangle… Full story

Drug Lords

Inside Mexico's narco churches. Full story

Los Zetas Drug Cartel Has Their Own Radio Network

Drug cartels are all over the place in Mexico, but the Los Zetas have gained the title of the most technologically advanced and dangerous cartel in the country. They’re ex-paramilitary, tooled up like a miniature army, and have even set up their own radio communications network t… Full story

How Not to Smuggle Drugs Into America

You can almost hear the lowly mules—both of whom fled the scene—cry out in that sort of self-deprecating "God damnit" that only comes when you know you really fucked up. Full story

Like Data for Drugs

Inside Mexico's wild, hidden spy center waging battle against the cartels. Full story

Sniffing Out Mexico's Cocaine Pilots

Inside America's $100 million sensor grab to pick off narco planes. Full story

Narco Surveillance Is Predictably Shady

No one really knows who's hooking up Mexico with $350 million in border-spying gear. Full story

World Peace Update

World Peace Update

Last week, Ukrainian opposition party leader Vitali Klitschko threw world peace down the drain by attempting to take on the Kiev PD singlehandedly. That was pretty hard to top, but a bunch of Mexican cartels, some Molotov cocktail-loving Northern Irish kids, and the Syrian army d… Full story