Boxer Julio Chávez Jr. Arrested by ICE—Tied to Sinaloa Cartel and Firearms Trafficking

On today’s episode, Katarina breaks down the recent ICE detention of Julio César Chávez Jr., the former boxing champion and son of a Mexican sports icon, amid allegations of cartel connections. As the U.S. pressures Mexico to crack down on organized crime, Katarina examines why Chávez Jr. was living freely in Los Angeles despite mounting scrutiny—and whether his treatment reflects a double standard. She also explores how cartel influence increasingly reaches into entertainment and celebrity circles, raising deeper questions about soft power, protection, and accountability across borders. Borderland is an IRONCLAD Original.

Om Podcasten

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 Tuesday and Thursday.