Adam Carolla Show Mariana van Zeller Exposes Cartels, Smugglers, Traffickers & Billion-Dollar Scammers
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Nov 19, 2025 Mariana van Zeller, an investigative journalist and host of The Hidden Third, delves into the dark realms of black markets, trafficking, and scams. She discusses how economic inequality drives individuals into crime and shares alarming insights on Southeast Asian scam factories. Mariana argues that over-regulation in California has inadvertently fueled black markets, while also highlighting the public health crisis of fentanyl mixed with xylazine. Her reflections on dangerous reporting assignments and insights into cartel dynamics provide a gripping window into a shadowy world.
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Hidden Third Drives Global Activity
- Black and gray markets make up a massive portion of the global economy, roughly the 'hidden third' Mariana studies.
- Inequality and lack of opportunity drive many people toward criminal economies rather than innate criminal intent.
Pimps As Neighborhood Role Models
- Mariana interviewed a Los Angeles pimp who said he expected to become a pimp because pimps were neighborhood heroes.
- That social modeling made criminal roles aspirational and normalized exploitation.
AI-Powered Scam Factories Exploit Workers
- Large scam factories in Southeast Asia traffick people and force them to run vast online fraud operations.
- Scammers now use AI for voices, faces, and live video models, making scams harder to detect.