In this episode, a former drug trafficker "Fernando" breaks down how crystal meth from Mexico’s most violent region flooded small-town America — and how he lived at the center of it.

Raised in a multi-generation trafficking family tied to Michoacán, Fernando reveals how meth labs in Mexico, tight-knit immigrant networks, and overlooked U.S. towns created one of the most devastating drug pipelines in modern history. From burying cash in the ground to moving hundreds of pounds before age 20, this is an unfiltered look at the business, culture, and consequences of the meth trade.

Fernando discusses:

-Why Michoacán became the epicenter of crystal meth

-How cartel families expand into small U.S. towns

-The economics of meth vs cocaine

-Gambling, narco culture, and “front” businesses

-How federal cases are quietly built for years

-Life inside federal prison and the cost to family

-Why leaving the game is harder than entering it

This episode is raw, detailed, and brutally honest — a firsthand account of how an entire system operates in plain sight.

This Episode Is #Sponsored By The Following:

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Join The Patreon For Bonus Content!

https://www.patreon.com/theconnectshow

00:00 How Michoacán Meth Changed Everything

02:14 Meet Fernando: Family History in Trafficking

07:11 Michoacán's Cartel Culture and Drug Routes

10:49 Growing Up in a Narco Family in the US

15:36 This Episode Is Sponsored By The Wellness Company

17:15 Why Michoacanos Move to the US Drug Market

24:08 Volleyball, Gambling & Community: The Social Side

30:09 This Episode Is Sponsored By Ava

32:24 Drug Dealing, Customers, and Cutting Product

42:09 Transitioning from Cocaine to Meth

47:41This Episode Is Sponsored By Betterhelp

49:04 How the Meth Market Works

53:19 Cooking, Stretching, and Selling Meth

01:00:13 Family Roles, Buried Money, and Prison

01:10:05 Life in Prison and Staying Connected

01:21:03 Getting Busted & Prosecuted

01:31:36 Culture, Resourcefulness, and Prison Life

01:41:00 Reflections, The Present & Trying to Go Legit

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