Brief Summary
This documentary series investigates various black markets, focusing on the flow of American guns into Mexico, the underground steroid industry, the world of pimps and sex trafficking, the resurgence of crystal meth, and the rise of women in Colombian drug cartels. It highlights the complex dynamics, motivations, and consequences within these illicit economies.
- American guns fuel cartel violence in Mexico.
- Underground steroid use is driven by body image issues and the desire for superhuman performance.
- Pimps exploit vulnerable women in the sex trade.
- Crystal meth is making a comeback, driven by cartels and online dating apps.
- Women are gaining power in Colombian drug cartels.
The Iron River
Mariana investigates the flow of American guns into Mexico, which are fuelling an arms race between cartels and terrorising civilians. She meets "La Guera" or "Blondie", a courier who has transported weapons into Mexico for the Sinaloa Cartel over 100 times, earning $20,000 a month. Mariana then meets Blondie's suppliers in LA, including "T", who reveals that they acquire weapons from corrupt law enforcement officials and military personnel. These weapons, including AR-15s and AK-47s, are the same ones used in mass shootings in America and are being used to kill Mexicans daily. The guns are stashed in a car and transported to Mexicali, where Blondie leaves the car with the keys hidden for someone else to pick up.
Following the Guns
Mariana traces the guns to a garage in Mexicali, where Hector sells them to cartels at a significant markup. He explains that in Mexico, where there is only one legal gun store, firearms are almost impossible to acquire without connections. The Sinaloa Cartel dominates the drug trade in this area, competing with other cartels to supply the United States with illegal drugs. The Mexican government's war on drugs has backfired, leading to increased violence and a demand for firepower from the US. In Culiacán, the drug capital of Mexico, journalist Miguel Angel Vega explains that gun violence has spiked due to internal conflicts within the Sinaloa Cartel and competition from outside cartels.
Inside the Cartel
Mariana travels to a town south of Culiacán to meet Sicarios, hired killers employed by the Sinaloa Cartel. The gun is seen as an essential tool to change their fortunes. The extraordinary profits from America's demand for drugs mean the cartels will always find new recruits. Mariana meets Maria Isabelle Cruz, who leads a group of mothers searching for their disappeared children, victims of the drug war. Her son, Josimar, a police officer combating the cartels, was kidnapped and never seen again.
Superhuman
Mariana attends a barbecue at Dr. Tony Huge's house, where performance-enhancing drugs are readily available. Tony Huge is a proponent of steroids, believing they can turn everyday people into superhumans. He introduces Mariana to his "guinea pigs," who openly use steroids. Tony, a retired lawyer, claims he is not a medical doctor but a Doctor of Jurisprudence. He sees steroids as a way to evolve beyond being average.
Underground Labs
Tony takes Mariana to an underground lab where he and his lead chemist, Coach Trevor, develop new performance-enhancing drugs. Tony's supplement company, Enhanced Athlete, was previously raided by the FDA. Trevor explains that the raw chemicals come from China, often disguised as food to evade customs. They are currently developing an injectable version of a SARM, a Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator, which Tony claims has all the benefits of steroids without the side effects.
The Risks
Jeff, a former bodybuilder, shares his experience with steroid use, which led to heart failure and multiple surgeries. He now faces the possibility of permanent heart damage and relies on testosterone to stay healthy. Dr. Thomas O'Connor, a physician specialising in steroid abuse, warns against Tony Huge's influence, stating that SARMs can increase the risk of heart attack, stroke, and liver damage. Tony Huge is now building a new research facility in Thailand to push the limits on performance enhancement, seeking to be less of a target for US authorities.
Pimps
Mariana investigates the world of pimps and sex trafficking in America, starting on Instagram, where pimps display wealth and power to attract women. She meets Mickey Royal, a former pimp, who takes her on a tour of Figueroa, an infamous track in LA. Mickey explains the dangers of the track, including sexual assault, rape, and violence. He also describes how pimps control their girls by dressing them alike and monitoring them closely.
On the Blade
Mariana meets Nina, Bee, and Honey, women involved in prostitution. Nina explains that many women turn to pimping due to daddy issues and a lack of self-worth. Bee, a nurse, uses prostitution to pay for school. Honey shares her experience of being sexually abused by her friend's father, who was a pimp, and how he convinced her to sell her body. She emphasises the difficulty of escaping the life and the dangers of snitching.
Chill
Mariana finally meets Chill, a working pimp, and his business partner, Lady P. Chill claims that pimping is about choice and that women are drawn to the lifestyle by the flash, money, and cars. Lady P describes how they recruit girls at clubs by offering them a taste of the VIP lifestyle. They admit to keeping the majority of the earnings. Mariana also meets Candy, one of Chill's girls, who gives a glowing review of him, but Mariana suspects she is simply pleasing her boss.
The Shadow World
Honey shares her anger towards men who exploit women and reflects on how her life would be different if she had not been introduced to that lifestyle. Mickey Royal explains that pimping is premeditated and that pimps are sadists who enjoy controlling and manipulating women.
Meth
Mariana investigates the resurgence of crystal meth in America, meeting Mike, a meth dealer in Austin. She learns that the demographics of meth users have changed, with many holding jobs and maintaining a normal appearance. However, the drug's addictive power remains the same, driven by the release of dopamine in the brain. Mike, an addict himself, has lost everything due to his addiction.
The Cartels
Mariana travels to Calexico to see how Mexican cartels smuggle meth into the US. She meets Ricardo, a smuggler who transports 24 pounds of meth on a motorcycle. The cartels utilise a decentralised network of freelance smugglers to minimise risk. Mariana then meets Pablo, a cartel operative in LA, who shows her a "Shake and Bake" lab, where meth is produced using household chemicals. The cartel is experimenting with a direct-to-consumer model, lowering production costs and eliminating transport risks.
Zombieland
Mike's life spirals out of control as his addiction deepens. He is on his last dime and struggles to maintain contact with his worried mother. Mariana witnesses Mike's chaotic lifestyle and the devastating effects of meth addiction. She observes how Mike uses dating apps like Grindr and Scruff to find clients in the gay community, where sex and meth use are often intertwined. Mike acknowledges the stigma surrounding meth but defends its use by some of the smartest people he knows.
Cocaine Queens
Mariana investigates the rise of women in Colombian drug cartels, seeking to track down Sonia, a commander in Los Caparros. She travels to Bajo Cauca, a violent region with a high murder rate, accompanied by Oliver Schmieg, a photojournalist, and Ivan Vasquez, a security advisor. They are picked up by Sonia's Sicarios, who take them to a mining operation.
La Comandante
Sonia's Sicarios disarm Mariana's crew and take them to meet "La Comandante," Sonia herself. Mariana observes Sonia giving orders and collecting money. However, tensions rise as another group approaches, forcing Sonia and her bodyguards to flee. Mariana learns that the Clan Del Golfo, a rival cartel with links to Mexico's Sinaloa cartel, led the attack.
Sonia
Mariana finally gets to interview Sonia, who reveals her background of poverty and revenge. She explains that her father was murdered by a paramilitary gang when she was 12. At 16, she fell in love with the regional commander of Los Caparros and ran away to be with him. Sonia describes her initiation into the cartel, which involved killing a disabled man. She takes Mariana to a coca plantation, where she helps manage 30,000 acres.
Recruited
Mariana learns that many Caparros members are kidnapped and forced to join the gang. Sonia admits to ordering the kidnapping of eight teenage soccer players. She explains that these horrors are all in the service of the product, cocaine. Sonia's bodyguards rush her away, fearing an attack from rival gangs. Weeks later, the Colombian military killed the leader of Los Caparros and captured Sonia's lover. Sonia's whereabouts are unknown, and the Colombian government has declared the gang "thoroughly dismantled." Mariana reflects on the rise of women in the black market, noting that they are pushing for equality in the most ruthless workplace of all.
