Ep 2. Mexico's First Cartel

In episode 2 of Narco Wars season 1, titled "Mexico's First Cartel," the show digs deep into the roots and rise of the very first drug cartel in Mexico. The episode provides an in-depth look at how the Guadalajara Cartel, led by Rafael Caro Quintero and Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo, began its journey in the 1980s and the trail of violence and destruction that followed in its wake.

The episode begins by describing Mexico in the 70s and 80s, a time when the country was plagued by immense poverty and rampant corruption. This was the ideal breeding ground for the drug trade to flourish, with its accompanying violence and bloodshed. The story then moves on to the heyday of the Guadalajara Cartel, which operated with almost complete impunity in Mexico, thanks to its close relationship with powerful officials in the government.

Through interviews with former DEA agents who were in the front lines of the war on drugs during this period, we get to understand how the drug trade worked, how the cartel was able to dominate the market, and how it managed to outmaneuver authorities for several years. The show also uncovers the extent of the Guadalajara Cartel's infiltration into the government, military, and police, which made it incredibly difficult for any enforcement agency to make a dent in their operations.

One of the key topics covered in this episode is the network of trafficking routes and distribution channels that the cartel built to smuggle drugs into the United States. The show delves into the intricate details of how these routes were set up, how the transportation of drugs was carried out, and how the cartel used fake businesses to launder their drug money.

The episode also explores the evolving drug trade culture during this period, with the emergence of cocaine as the drug of choice among America's youth. We get to see how the Guadalajara Cartel shifted its focus from marijuana and heroin to cocaine as the demand for the drug grew, and how it resulted in a blood-soaked turf war between different drug cartels vying for control of the market.

The show does an excellent job of detailing the role of the key players in the Guadalajara Cartel and how their actions impacted the drug trade in Mexico and the wider world. From Rafael Caro Quintero, the mastermind behind the cartel's operations, to Miguel Angel Felix Gallardo, the man who held all the power, to the hitmen and enforcers who carried out killings and torture, we get an all-encompassing view of their world and how it operated.

Overall, Narco Wars season 1 episode 2, "Mexico's First Cartel," provides a fascinating insight into the story of the Guadalajara Cartel. With compelling interviews, archive footage, and detailed visuals, the show takes us on a journey through the cartel's rise and fall, highlighting its impact on Mexico and the wider world. It's an engrossing and informative watch that paints a vivid picture of a dark and violent chapter in Mexican history.