# War Correspondent: Kidnapped in Syria, Covering the Global Drug Trade, and the Future of Cartels (Jonathan Alpeyrie)

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/change-agents-with-andy-stumpf-6206375/war-correspondent-kidnapped-in-syria-covering-the-global-drug-trade-and-the-future-of-cartels-jonathan-alpeyrie
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/change-agents-with-andy-stumpf-6206375/war-correspondent-kidnapped-in-syria-covering-the-global-drug-trade-and-the-future-of-cartels-jonathan-alpeyrie.md
Podcast: [Change Agents with Andy Stumpf](https://stenobird.com/podcast/change-agents-with-andy-stumpf-6206375)
Published: 2026-09-02T21:45:00+00:00
Episode link: https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/clrtpod.com/m/pscrb.fm/rss/p/mgln.ai/e/1184/traffic.megaphone.fm/IRD5105828835.mp3
Audio file: https://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/pdst.fm/e/clrtpod.com/m/pscrb.fm/rss/p/mgln.ai/e/1184/traffic.megaphone.fm/IRD5105828835.mp3
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Duration seconds: 3077

## Resource

Our guest today is Jonathan Alpeyrie, a photojournalist who has spent over two decades embedded in conflict zones across the world. In 2013 he was kidnapped and held captive for 81 days by Syrian rebels. His latest book, Drug Wars: Supply and Demand, is an unflinching look at the global drug trade. Change Agents is an IRONCLAD Original. Chapters (00:00:00) Cold open / Intro / Guest bio(00:07:42) The Syria kidnapping - Capture, Captivity, Ransom, Escape(00:16:10) Bouncing back and pivoting to drug trade coverage(00:20:55) Cartels vs. European gangs, and their growing alliances(00:24:56) Europe's weak law enforcement and no-go zones(00:29:19) Immigration, demographics, and EU sovereignty(00:35:11) Cocaine's resurgence in Europe(00:42:01) Africa's role in the global drug trade(00:43:18) War, humanity, and closing advice Sponsors: Firecracker Farm Use code IRONCLAD to get 15% off your first order at https://firecracker.farm/ Marek Health: Visit https://marekhealth.com/ and use code IRONCLAD to receive 10% off The Uprising: From the director of JASON BOURNE, Paul Greengrass brings you THE UPRISING. Andrew Garfield stars as the leader of a ferocious rebellion against the tyranny of King Richard II. Set against the true events of the Uprising that helped inspire the legend of Robin Hood, he forms an army of the people to face the King’s might in a fight for justice. Only in theaters September 10. Get tickets. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/change-agents-with-andy-stumpf/id1677415740 Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3SKmtN55V2AGbzHDo34DHI?si=5aefbba9abc844ed Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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