Powder And Plot

Mexico becomes the new battleground in America’s war on drugs

- Joanna Berry

Over three seasons, acclaimed Netflix true-life drama Narcos explored the Colombian drug cartels led by Pablo Escobar, who made billions by shipping cocaine into the United States.

However, as a new Narcos spin-off reveals, the Colombians weren’t the only people making their fortunes. At the same time, Mexican gangs were working alongside the Colombians to smuggle drugs over the border.

‘With the death of Escobar in 1993, the Mexicans took over and became the kings of cocaine,’ says executive producer Eric Newman. ‘The US shares 1,900 miles of border with Mexico, so it made perfect sense.’