CARTELS EXPLAINED: HOW THE DRUG TRADE REALLY WORKS

Cinemavixion Review

Ben Zand's "Cartels Explained" offers a stark and unflinching look into the global illicit trade, beginning with a critical examination of the Sinaloa Cartel in Mexico. Zand skillfully navigates the dangerous intersection of immense wealth, pervasive violence, and the pervasive influence of drug trafficking. The series then pivots to Lebanon, exposing the complex web of the arms trade, where instability fuels illegal networks and political unrest provides cover for illicit arms dealers. The final segment brings the investigation closer to home, exploring the crack cocaine trade within working-class communities in Northern England. Through intimate interviews with those involved, Zand sheds light on how local gangs establish dominance in the drug market. "Cartels Explained" is a compelling documentary series that effectively illustrates how criminal enterprises, though shaped by distinct local conditions, are intrinsically linked by global patterns of demand and supply, offering viewers a profound understanding of these hidden worlds.