Off The Record Podcast
Off The Record Podcast
February 24, 2026

🚨 LIVE: War In Mexico Escalates - Presidential Building ATTACKED

Quick Read

Mexico faces escalating cartel violence, including attacks on government buildings and civilians, while the host alleges an alliance between Mexican cartels and Iran's IRGC, posing a direct threat to US national security amid perceived political inaction.
CJNG cartel escalated attacks on civilians, banks, and presidential buildings after their leader's elimination and unmet demands.
Reports allege a direct alliance between Mexican cartels and Iran's IRGC, involving money laundering, fentanyl, human trafficking, and assassination plots against US/Israeli officials.
The host criticizes Mexican and US liberal leadership for perceived inaction and ideological obstruction in combating cartel threats and securing borders.

Summary

Following the elimination of CJNG leader 'Elmetro' with US intelligence support, Mexican cartels escalated attacks, targeting civilians, businesses, banks, and regional presidential buildings after the government rejected their demands for the leader's body and the surrender of those responsible. The host highlights the alleged alliance between Mexican drug cartels and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), citing reports of IRGC involvement in money laundering, fentanyl smuggling, human trafficking, and plotting assassinations of US and Israeli officials on American soil. Despite the Mexican military regaining control in areas like Puerto Vallarta and Jalisco, the host criticizes Mexican President Shane Bon for stubbornness and US Democrats for opposing deportations of foreign criminals, arguing that political ideology hinders pragmatic solutions to national security threats.
The escalating cartel violence in Mexico, coupled with alleged foreign state actor involvement (IRGC), poses a direct and immediate threat to US national security through increased drug and human trafficking, potential terrorism, and destabilization of a key border nation. The host's critique of political leadership in both Mexico and the US highlights a perceived failure to adopt pragmatic, effective strategies against transnational crime, potentially exacerbating regional instability and endangering citizens and tourists.

Takeaways

  • CJNG cartel initiated widespread attacks on civilians, businesses, and government infrastructure after their leader, 'Elmetro,' was killed.
  • Cartel demands included the return of their deceased leader's body and the surrender of those responsible for his death.
  • Regional presidential buildings, including in Mitakhan, were targeted by narco-terrorists.
  • A report, allegedly verified by Versagrad, details an alliance between Mexican cartels and Iran's IRGC, involving money laundering, fentanyl smuggling, and human trafficking.
  • The IRGC reportedly plotted assassinations of a Saudi ambassador (2011) and an Israeli ambassador (2024) in Washington D.C. and Mexico, respectively, using cartel members.
  • The host criticizes Mexican President Shane Bon for refusing US assistance and US Democrats for opposing the deportation of foreign criminals with cartel links.
  • The host advocates for pragmatic, non-ideological approaches to security, citing El Salvador and Argentina as successful models.

Insights

1Cartel Escalation and Demands Post-Elimination of 'Elmetro'

Following the killing of CJNG leader 'Elmetro' with US intelligence support, the cartel issued a deadline to the Mexican government with two demands: release their dead leader's body and surrender those responsible for his killing. Upon rejection, the cartel escalated attacks from targeting military and government to civilians, businesses, banks, and regional presidential buildings.

The cartel went absolutely crazy and they then decided to put on a a deadline to to the Mexican government. Uh two very simple demands apparently. Number one, release the dead body of their former leader. Eh, okay. Number two, anybody who was responsible for his killing, you need to get them to surrender. So, people in the uh the Mexican government and the military. Yeah, that's never going to happen. Of course, the Americans have offered help, but the Mexican president Shane Bon continues to be absolutely stubborn. ()

2Alleged Alliance Between Mexican Cartels and Iran's IRGC

A report, purportedly verified by Versagrad, exposes an alliance between Mexican drug cartels and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). This alliance allegedly involves the IRGC assisting cartels with money laundering, fentanyl smuggling, human trafficking, and weapon transport, posing a direct threat to US national security.

uh report also [clears throat] verified by Versagrad and other media outlets uh shows the alliance between the Mexican drug cartels and the Islamic regime in Thran. Now this poses a direct threat to the Americans not just when it comes to oil but also in terms of national security in the US but the IRGC directly we have been working with Elantro and of course the rest of the cartels in Latin America they have been in charge of money laundering and as well as fentinel smuggling human trafficking in the region uh which has been affecting the security of the US southern border. ()

3IRGC's Historical Plots with Cartels Against US and Israeli Officials

The IRGC, through its Quds Force, has a history of collaborating with Mexican cartels for geopolitical objectives. This includes a failed 2011 plot with the Zetas cartel to assassinate a Saudi ambassador in Washington D.C., a 2024 plot to eliminate the Israeli ambassador to Mexico, and attempts between 2024-2025 to recruit cartel members to target US officials and Iranian dissidents on American soil in exchange for weapons.

In 2011 alone, the gods force of the IRGC, the branch uh successfully managed to work with the Zetas cartel. They plotted a failed assassination of a Saudi ambassador in Washington DC. In 2024, God's force of the IRGC also plotted to eliminate the Israeli ambassador to Mexico. That also failed. Between 2024 and 2025, the IRGC once again attempted to recruit Mexican cartel members to target US officials and Iranian dissident on American soil. ()

4Critique of Mexican and US Political Leadership on Cartel Crisis

The host strongly criticizes Mexican President Shane Bon for her 'stubbornness' in refusing US assistance and downplaying the crisis. Similarly, US Democrats are accused of hypocrisy and ideological obstruction for blocking the deportation of foreign criminals linked to cartels, which the host argues directly contributes to increased crime and insecurity.

Of course, the Americans have offered help, but the Mexican president Shane Bon continues to be absolutely stubborn. () ...the US Democrats fought to stop the deportation of at least five dangerous criminals with links to the cartels in South America. They stopped the ICE agents from carrying out the detentions and the deportation. () ...When you have a shame bomb going around talking nonsense and saying everything is fine, everything is okay. We are all united. No, you're not. ()

Bottom Line

The alleged alliance between Mexican cartels and Iran's IRGC represents a significant evolution in transnational organized crime, merging drug trafficking and human smuggling with state-sponsored terrorism and geopolitical objectives.

So What?

This connection elevates the threat from cartels beyond traditional criminal activities to a national security concern for the US, involving potential terrorist plots and weapon proliferation facilitated by a hostile foreign power.

Impact

Requires a re-evaluation of US counter-narcotics and border security strategies to integrate counter-terrorism and intelligence operations, potentially involving international cooperation beyond traditional law enforcement frameworks to address state-sponsored criminal networks.

The CJNG cartel offered a $1,200 reward for every police officer or soldier killed, leading to 'amateur minion wannabe gangsters' taking up arms and targeting law enforcement.

So What?

This incentive program democratizes violence, increasing the number of active combatants and creating widespread chaos, even if many are unskilled. It strains law enforcement resources and further destabilizes regions.

Impact

Develop counter-recruitment strategies and intelligence to identify and neutralize these 'amateur' threats quickly, alongside traditional cartel leadership targeting. Public awareness campaigns could also be used to deter participation.

Lessons

  • Mexican leadership should set aside ideological differences and pragmatically adopt proven security models, such as those implemented in El Salvador, to effectively combat cartels.
  • The US and Mexico must enhance intelligence sharing and operational cooperation to dismantle transnational criminal networks, especially those with alleged links to foreign state actors like the IRGC.
  • US policymakers should prioritize national security over political ideology by supporting robust border enforcement and the deportation of foreign criminals with cartel ties, as a failure to do so directly impacts domestic safety.

Leadership Model for Combating Cartels: The Pragmatic Approach

1

Prioritize national security and citizen safety above political ideology or leanings.

2

Study and implement successful, pragmatic models from other nations (e.g., El Salvador, Argentina) that have effectively reduced cartel influence and crime.

3

Actively seek and accept international assistance and intelligence, particularly from neighboring countries like the US, to enhance operational capabilities against sophisticated criminal organizations.

4

Ensure strong border controls to prevent the influx of weapons and the movement of foreign criminals, regardless of political opposition.

5

Maintain a clear and firm stance against cartel demands, demonstrating state sovereignty and resolve, rather than negotiating with narco-terrorists.

Notable Moments

CJNG cartel ambushed two Mexican National Guard members, injuring another, in Jalisco after their leader's elimination.

This highlights the immediate and violent retaliation capabilities of the cartel against state forces following a significant loss, demonstrating their operational reach and intent to challenge government authority.

Regional presidential buildings, including in Mitakhan, were targeted by narco-terrorists after the government failed to meet cartel demands.

The targeting of government infrastructure signifies a direct assault on the state and its symbols of power, indicating a severe escalation of conflict beyond traditional drug routes or turf wars.

A Mexican soldier survived an operation against 'Elmetro' with a bullet casing lodged in his face, showcasing the intensity and danger of the conflict.

This specific incident provides a visceral example of the risks faced by Mexican armed forces and the close-quarters combat involved in operations against cartel leadership.

Quotes

"

"You have to judge based on outcome, not based on intent. Ba judge based on people's actions."

Amaya Tusi (Host)
"

"Forget about your ideologies. Forget about your political leanings. Be pragmatic. Be practical. Whatever model works, go with that."

Amaya Tusi (Host)
"

"I'm not unbiased. I don't believe that the news should be unbiased. It's it's stupid. uh human beings will always have a bias. What you should be is objective. You should be honest about your leanings and that's what CNN doesn't do."

Amaya Tusi (Host)

Q&A

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