# The Cartel Crisis at America’s Northern Border — Narcos Target Tribal Lands

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/borderland-dispatches-with-katarina-szulc-7338689/the-cartel-crisis-at-america-s-northern-border-narcos-target-tribal-lands
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/borderland-dispatches-with-katarina-szulc-7338689/the-cartel-crisis-at-america-s-northern-border-narcos-target-tribal-lands.md
Podcast: [Borderland: Dispatches with Katarina Szulc](https://stenobird.com/podcast/borderland-dispatches-with-katarina-szulc-7338689)
Published: 2026-02-27T22:39:00+00:00
Episode link: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/IRD2887209661.mp3?updated=1772519348
Audio file: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/IRD2887209661.mp3?updated=1772519348
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/borderland-dispatches-with-katarina-szulc-7338689/episodes/the-cartel-crisis-at-america-s-northern-border-narcos-target-tribal-lands
Duration seconds: 1721

## Resource

On today's episode, Katarina reports from Montana’s northern border near the Blackfeet Nation, where vast stretches of open land are being exploited for drug and human trafficking. She’s joined by former game warden John Nores, who spent decades confronting cartel operations on public and tribal lands. Katarina also shares the story of Marla Ollinger, a grandmother who tragically lost both of her children to fentanyl and now raises her grandchildren while navigating the dangers and fallout of the ongoing crisis in rural and tribal communities. Borderland: Dispatches is an IRONCLAD Original Chapters: (00:00) Introduction: The Fentanyl Crisis in Montana (01:25) A Mother's Heartbreak: Marla's Story of Loss (07:07) Breaking the Cycle: Raising the Grandkids (09:17) The Vulnerable Northern Border (14:02) Smuggling Routes and Environmental Destruction (16:11) The Law Enforcement Challenge: Complex Jurisdictions (18:56) Anonymous Interview with a Tribal Police Officer Sponsors: GHOSTBED: Go to https://www.GhostBed.com/IRONCLAD and use code IRONCLAD for an extra 15% off sitewide. Norwood Sawmills: Learn more about Norwood Sawmills and how you can start milling your own lumber at https://norwoodsawmills.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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