Danger Close | The Fourth Option Podcast: Ed Calderon

Danger Close | The Fourth Option Podcast: Ed Calderon

From The Jack Carr Channel by Jack Carr

May 20, 2026 · 1h 22m · Season 6 · Episode 14

About this episode

Jack Carr interviews former Mexican counter-narcotics officer Ed Calderon about the evolution of Mexican cartels and their impact on US security.

Today on DANGER CLOSE: THE FOURTH OPTION, I’m joined by Ed Calderon, a former Mexican counter-narcotics officer with firsthand experience fighting organized crime on the front lines. We get into the evolution of Mexican cartels from smuggling organizations into paramilitary forces, the rise of CJNG, drones, corruption, tradecraft, operational security, and why the security challenges facing Mexico are inseparable from the future of the United States. This is a companion podcast to my new thriller, THE FOURTH OPTION, talking to those on the front lines, analyzing modern warfare, and taking listeners deeper into the themes that inspired the novel. This podcast series is presented by HUXWRX Safety Co., Staccato 2011, and Bravo Company USA.

People in this episode

Host: Jack Carr

Guest: Ed Calderon

Topics covered

  • Mexican cartels
  • organized crime
  • CJNG
  • drones
  • corruption
  • operational security
  • US-Mexico security challenges

Keywords

  • Mexican cartels
  • organized crime
  • CJNG
  • drones
  • corruption
  • operational security
  • security challenges
  • THE FOURTH OPTION

Sponsors

HUXWRX Safety Co., Staccato 2011, Bravo Company USA

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: THE FOURTH OPTION

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