Mexico’s cartels aren’t just crime syndicates—they’re power brokers shaping politics, security, and the U.S.–Mexico border. In this episode of The Focus, Dr. John Bruni speaks with Stefano Ritondale to unpack the rise of the Sinaloa Cartel, CJNG, and Gulf Cartel—and what their influence means for North America.

#mexicancartels #geopolitics #thefocuspodcast

Show Notes

Connect with Stefano:

X: @All_Source_News 

Artorias: https://www.artorias.com/leadership 

Podcasts & Interviews:

Stefano featured on Cleared Hot podcast (Episode 373) where he discussed cartel violence, organised crime, and Latin American security as an intelligence expert.

He also appeared on The Distinguished Savage Podcast (Episode 319), exploring Mexican cartel dynamics.

Print/Online Interviews & Commentary

In an interview with Rolling Stone published in February 2025, Ritondale offered expert commentary on how cartel leaders perceive government protection and the implications of being labeled terrorists.

Recent Media Mentions

Most recently, in a Defense Feeds article (July 2025), he provided insights into how Mexican cartels are training in Ukraine to utilise FPV drones, indicating the rising sophistication of cartel tactics.