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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New Generation's Centralized Power
- The Jalisco New Generation cartel transformed from a drug gang into a vertically integrated organized-crime empire concentrated under Mencho.
- That centralization gives them concentrated power and capabilities unlike the decentralized Sinaloa federation.
Diversified Criminal Portfolio
- The cartel evolved from pure drug trafficking into rackets like extortion, fraud, and real estate schemes to diversify revenue.
- That diversification makes them politically powerful and embedded across Mexico's economy.
Franchise Model vs Federation
- Sinaloa functioned as a horizontal federation of autonomous nodes, while New Generation is hierarchical and franchised under central command.
- That franchise model lets New Generation standardize operations and concentrate force across territory.
