Monday, 11 May 2026 21:06

FO Podcasts: Why Narcoterrorism Still Matters

FO Podcasts: Why Narcoterrorism Still Matters
May 11, 2026 06:53 EDT
Check out our comment feature!

This article saved into your bookmarks. Click here to view your bookmarks.

My Bookmarks

Editor-in-Chief Atul Singh speaks with former counterterrorism operative Jeffrey James Higgins about narcoterrorism, a threat that sits between organized crime, insurgency and geopolitical conflict. Higgins argues that illicit drug networks are no longer merely criminal enterprises. They fund armed groups, corrupt institutions, hollow out communities and, in some cases, operate like shadow states. As synthetic opioids such as fentanyl spread and cartels acquire paramilitary capabilities, Singh and Higgins examine whether narcotics should be treated as a public health crisis, a law enforcement problem or a national security threat.

LISTEN ON:
ALSO AVAILABLE ON:
  • Spotify Spotify
  • apple-podcasts <rect class="cls-1" width="511.86" height="511.86" rx="113.87" /> <path class="cls-2" d="M240.44,448.26c-15.27-5.46-18.54-12.88-24.81-56.38-7.28-50.55-8.87-81.84-4.65-91.75,5.59-13.14,20.78-20.6,42-20.68,21.07-.09,36.39,7.44,42,20.68,4.24,9.89,2.65,41.2-4.64,91.75-4.95,35.32-7.67,44.25-14.5,50.25-9.38,8.31-22.69,10.61-35.32,6.14Zm-65.22-51.87c-52.73-25.94-86.51-69.82-98.79-128.2-3.07-15.07-3.59-51-.69-64.84,7.68-37.11,22.36-66.13,46.75-91.79,35.15-37.06,80.37-56.65,130.7-56.65,49.82,0,94.86,19.23,129.16,55.18,26.1,27.13,40.77,55.84,48.28,93.67,2.56,12.59,2.56,46.92.17,61.08a181.4,181.4,0,0,1-69.1,113c-13,9.79-44.7,26.89-49.82,26.89-1.88,0-2.05-1.94-1.19-9.81,1.53-12.63,3.07-15.25,10.23-18.26,11.44-4.77,30.89-18.63,42.83-30.61a163,163,0,0,0,42.82-75.41c4.44-17.57,3.93-56.64-1-74.73C390,138.36,343.1,93.66,285.61,81.72c-16.73-3.42-47.1-3.42-64,0-58.18,11.94-106.29,58.86-121,117.89-3.92,16-3.92,55.11,0,71.15,9.73,39.07,35,74.9,68.08,96.23a147.45,147.45,0,0,0,17.58,10.07c7.16,3.07,8.7,5.63,10.06,18.25.85,7.68.68,9.9-1.19,9.9-1.2,0-9.9-3.75-19.11-8.19ZM175.9,327c-17.75-14.16-33.44-39.28-39.93-63.91-3.92-14.88-3.92-43.17.17-58,10.75-40.06,40.27-71.12,81.22-85.71,14-4.94,45-6,62.27-2.25C339,130.33,381.15,189.79,373,248.77c-3.24,23.77-11.43,43.29-25.93,61.42-7.17,9.16-24.57,24.54-27.64,24.54-.51,0-1-5.8-1-12.87V309l8.88-10.58c33.44-40.06,31.05-96-5.46-132.74-14.16-14.29-30.54-22.69-51.7-26.56-13.65-2.53-16.55-2.53-30.88-.17-21.76,3.55-38.61,12-53.58,26.78C148.94,202,146.55,258.29,180,298.38L188.8,309v13c0,7.17-.57,13-1.27,13s-5.63-3.41-10.92-7.68Zm59.2-69.66c-15.18-7.07-23.37-20.39-23.54-37.76,0-15.61,8.7-29.23,23.71-37.2,9.56-5,26.45-5,36,0a46.34,46.34,0,0,1,22.18,26.85c9.9,33.65-25.76,63.13-58,48.07Z" transform="translate(-0.14 -0.14)" /> <circle class="cls-2" cx="255.74" cy="221.24" r="42.55" /> <path class="cls-2" d="M260,280.42a83.61,83.61,0,0,1,14.25,2.9,51.55,51.55,0,0,1,14.26,7.13c3.76,2.73,6.49,5.56,8.19,9s2.56,7.54,3.07,14.25c.34,6.72.34,16-1.19,33.44s-4.61,42.79-7,59.08-4.09,23.55-6.31,28.84a25.82,25.82,0,0,1-18.94,16.55,41,41,0,0,1-9.89.85,42.41,42.41,0,0,1-9.9-.85c-3.92-.86-9-2.39-12.8-5.46-3.92-3.07-6.48-7.51-8.53-13.31s-3.58-12.8-5.63-26.79-4.78-34.8-6.48-50.67-2.39-26.79-2.53-34.13.17-11,1-14.5a28.93,28.93,0,0,1,4.09-9.38,31.14,31.14,0,0,1,6.83-7,27.87,27.87,0,0,1,8-4.3A60.8,60.8,0,0,1,241.35,283c4.43-.85,9.55-1.7,12.18-2.05a13.34,13.34,0,0,1,5.56,0Z" transform="translate(-0.14 -0.14)" /> </svg> Apple Podcasts <li> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H6JpjnDqbX4" class="hero-podcast-link" target="_blank"> <!--?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?--> <svg width="17" height="17" viewbox="0 0 16 16" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" fill="none"> <path fill="red" d="M14.712 4.633a1.754 1.754 0 00-1.234-1.234C12.382 3.11 8 3.11 8 3.11s-4.382 0-5.478.289c-.6.161-1.072.634-1.234 1.234C1 5.728 1 8 1 8s0 2.283.288 3.367c.162.6.635 1.073 1.234 1.234C3.618 12.89 8 12.89 8 12.89s4.382 0 5.478-.289a1.754 1.754 0 001.234-1.234C15 10.272 15 8 15 8s0-2.272-.288-3.367z" /> <path fill="#ffffff" d="M6.593 10.11l3.644-2.098-3.644-2.11v4.208z" /> </svg> YouTube Podcasts </a></li> <li> <a href="https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a152b66f-3cd1-4da9-b429-54b204d40311/episodes/d21672cb-4c2b-4846-bd5c-489d0049c604/fo-podcasts-what-is-narcoterrorism-and-why-it-still-matters-fair-observer" class="hero-podcast-link" target="_blank"> <img decoding="async" src="https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/themes/fo2023/assets/images/amazon-icon.png" alt="Amazon" width="17" height="17" /> Amazon Music </a></li> </div> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Drugs, terror and power</h2> <p>Higgins defines narcoterrorism as “the nexus between terrorism and illicit narcotics trafficking.” He says this connection once met skepticism inside parts of the US intelligence community, but his experience in Afghanistan after 2004 convinced him that the overlap was undeniable. Taliban-linked networks, drug traffickers and armed groups often shared routes, revenue streams and operational interests.</p> <p>The logic is straightforward. Drugs generate enormous profits, and illegal organizations need money that cannot be raised openly. Afghanistan’s opium economy once supplied much of the world’s heroin, while groups such as the Taliban used narcotics revenue to sustain their political and military ambitions. Today, Higgins argues, fentanyl has transformed the landscape because it is cheaper, more potent and easier to produce than plant-based narcotics.</p> <p>He breaks narcoterrorism into several types: cartels that use political violence to protect drug profits, ideological groups that use drug money to fund their goals, individuals who are both traffickers and terrorists, and broader partnerships between criminal and militant networks. Singh adds that states can also use narcotics as tools of destabilization, citing Pakistan’s alleged role in the Indian state of Punjab and the wider debate over China’s role in the fentanyl trade.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Fentanyl and unrestricted warfare</h2> <p>Much of the conversation turns to China. Higgins argues that Beijing benefits from the flow of fentanyl and related synthetic opioids into the United States, even when it takes limited steps to appear cooperative. In his view, China has the capacity to do far more to stop precursor chemicals and fentanyl analogues from leaving its territory.</p> <p>Singh complicates the argument by placing it in historical context. He recalls Britain’s 19th-century use of Indian opium against China, which helped inaugurate China’s “century of humiliation.” Higgins accepts the historical parallel but argues that the present danger is part of a broader strategy. He links narcotics to cyberattacks, financial pressure and what he calls disintegration warfare — the effort to weaken a rival from within.</p> <p>This results in not just overdose deaths, Higgins says, but institutional decay. Narcotics weaken public health, reduce productivity, increase enforcement costs and deepen mistrust in government. Unlike a dramatic terrorist attack, drug-driven destabilization unfolds slowly. This process, in Singh’s words, can “hollow out” entire communities.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Cartels as insurgents</h2> <p>Singh then turns to Mexico and Latin America, where drug cartels have evolved far beyond smuggling networks. Higgins argues that some cartels now resemble insurgent forces. They possess military-style weapons, armored vehicles, drones, mines and the capacity to challenge police and military forces directly.</p> <p>Their violence is deliberately political. Beheadings, assassinations and bodies displayed in public are meant to intimidate judges, police, politicians and civilians. Higgins says the stability of Mexico is on a “knife’s edge,” weakened by corruption that has eaten into law enforcement, the judiciary and political life.</p> <p>For Singh, this raises a deeper question about state power. A state must monopolize legitimate violence. When cartels control neighborhoods, extort businesses, corrupt officials and enforce their own rules, they become rival authorities. Higgins agrees, warning that narcoterrorists can “unravel the tapestry built over a long period of time.”</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Public health or national security?</h2> <p>Singh presses Higgins on the argument made by some retired CIA officers that drugs are primarily a demand-side and public health problem. Higgins partly agrees. Addiction often reflects cultural malaise, despair and loss of agency. He supports community-based solutions, youth engagement and problem-oriented policing.</p> <p>But he rejects the idea that narcoterrorism can be reduced to public health. Fentanyl and carfentanyl are different from marijuana or other recreational drugs, he argues, because their potency makes them uniquely lethal. Additionally, many traffickers are not merely selling narcotics; they are committing assassinations, hijackings and acts of political violence.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading">Shadow states and justice</h2> <p>The conversation ends with criminal justice. Higgins argues that the US over-incarcerates nonviolent offenders but under-incarcerates violent career criminals. Reform is necessary, he says, but so is incapacitation when individuals repeatedly commit violent crimes.</p> <div class="signup-popup square-email-box n-email-popup light-pink"> <div class="modal-content modal-content-email-box"> <div class="display-flex"> <div class="mobile-view-content"> <h2>We are a rare nonprofit in the world news space. Most other organizations are owned by billionaires or governments. We are bottom-up, not top-down and bring you perspectives from around the world. So, sign up now for our free newsletters to hear from our <strong>3,000+ voices</strong> from <strong>90+ countries</strong>.</h2> </div> <div class="signup-popup"> <div class="signup-innersection"> <form method="post" action="https://www.fairobserver.com/moosend-subscription"> <input type="hidden" name="nlang" value="" /> <div class="tnp-field tnp-field-email"> <div class="newsletter-block"> <input type="email" name="user_email" id="email" required="" placeholder="Enter your email address" onfocus="this.placeholder=’’" onblur="this.placeholder=’Enter your email address’" /> <input type="hidden" name="amp" value="1" /> <input type="submit" value="SUBSCRIBE" /> <div class="cpf-checkbox"> <input type="checkbox" name="ms-Your_email_will_be_shared_with_fairobserver_and_subject_to_it’s_Privacy_Policy" id="privacy-policy" value="true" onchange="document.getElementById(’privacy-policy-false’).name=(this.checked ? ‘’ : this.name)" required="" /> <label for="Your email will be shared with fairobserver and subject to its Privacy Policy">I agree to receive emails and other content from Fair Observer. I understand that I may repeal my consent at any time. You can review our <a href="https://www.fairobserver.com/privacy-policy/">Privacy Policy</a> and <a href="https://www.fairobserver.com/terms-of-use/">Terms of Use</a> for further information...</label> </div> </div> </div> </form> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <p>When the state fails to provide protection and justice, groups such as the Mafia, MS-13 or cartels step in. The danger of narcoterrorism is not just addiction or crime. It is the slow disintegration of lawful authority itself.</p> <p><em>[<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/leethompsonkolar/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Lee Thompson-Kolar</a> edited this piece.]</em></p> <p><strong>The views expressed in this article/podcast are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Fair Observer’s editorial policy.</strong></p> </div> <div class="listen-on"> <h5 class="listen-head">LISTEN ON:</h5> <h5 class="available-head">ALSO AVAILABLE ON:</h5> <ul> <li> <a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/49g2F7fMY5iV1mQEnv54TN" class="hero-podcast-link" target="_blank"> <img src="https://www.fairobserver.com/wp-content/themes/fo2023/assets/images/spotify-icon.png" alt="Spotify" width="17" height="17" /> Spotify </a></li> <li> <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/what-is-narcoterrorism-and-why-it-still-matters-fair/id1635703566?i=1000763662281" class="hero-podcast-link" target="_blank"> <svg id="Layer_1" data-name="Layer 1" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" viewbox="0 0 511.86 511.86" width="17" height="17"> <defs> <style>.cls-1{fill:url(#linear-gradient);}.cls-2{fill:#fff;}</style> <lineargradient id="linear-gradient" x1="567.48" y1="-4.48" x2="563.14" y2="513.88" gradienttransform="matrix(1, 0, 0, -1, -309.35, 513.86)" gradientunits="userSpaceOnUse"> <stop offset="0" stop-color="#822cbe" /> <stop offset="1" stop-color="#d772fb" /> </lineargradient> </defs> <title>apple-podcasts Apple Podcasts
  • YouTube Podcasts
  • Amazon Amazon Music
Login
Please login to comment
0 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Commenting Guidelines

Please read our commenting guidelines before commenting.

1. Be Respectful: Please be polite to the author. Avoid hostility. The whole point of Fair Observer is openness to different perspectives from perspectives from around the world.

2. Comment Thoughtfully: Please be relevant and constructive. We do not allow personal attacks, disinformation or trolling. We will remove hate speech or incitement.

3. Contribute Usefully: Add something of value — a point of view, an argument, a personal experience or a relevant link if you are citing statistics and key facts.

Please agree to the guidelines before proceeding.

The United States is currently grappling with a devastating fentanyl epidemic that has claimed thousands of lives and continues to...

by Vikram Zutshi, June 2, 2023
Fair Observer
by Gustavo Ribeiro, March 11, 2017
Fair Observer
by Sadeq Naseri, December 21, 2014
Fair Observer
by Rogelio Garcia-Contreras, September 27, 2011
Fair Observer
by Michael Briggs, March 23, 2011
Fair Observer

In this episode of FO Podcasts, Atul Singh and Kent Jenkins Jr. examine why Americans support strict border control but...

Kent Jenkins Jr. & Atul Singh, April 16, 2026
Fair Observer

In this episode of FO Podcasts, Atul Singh and Cynthia Farahat examine the Muslim Brotherhood’s origins, debating whether it evolved...

Cynthia Farahat & Atul Singh, April 8, 2026
Fair Observer

Since President Xi Jinping came to power in 2012, China has been acting more aggressively towards Taiwan. Tensions go back...

Glenn Carle & Atul Singh, April 3, 2026
Fair Observer

In this episode of The Dialectic, Atul Singh and Glenn Carle explain how India’s current leader has rolled back the...

Glenn Carle & Atul Singh, February 12, 2026
Fair Observer

In this episode of FO° Podcasts, Atul Singh and Benjamin Delille examine US President Donald Trump’s confrontation with Venezuela, questioning...

by Benjamin Delille & Atul Singh, January 18, 2026
Fair Observer

In this episode of FO° Podcasts, Rohan Khattar Singh and Asanga Abeyagoonasekera examine Myanmar’s December 28 elections against the backdrop...

by Asanga Abeyagoonasekera & Rohan Khattar Singh, January 6, 2026
Fair Observer

In this episode of FO° Podcasts, Atul Singh and Kent Jenkins Jr. discuss how class shapes US identity and political...

by Kent Jenkins Jr. & Atul Singh, December 29, 2025
Fair Observer

In this episode of The Dialectic, Atul Singh and Glenn Carle examine France’s deepening polycrisis. Rising debt, political paralysis and...

by Glenn Carle & Atul Singh, December 13, 2025
Fair Observer

In this episode of The Dialectic, Atul Singh and Glenn Carle explore how Germany faces acute economic, political and social...

by Glenn Carle & Atul Singh, December 2, 2025
Fair Observer

In this episode of FO° Podcasts, Atul Singh and Lauren Greenberg explore how Title IX reshaped women’s sports and personal...

by Lauren Greenberg & Atul Singh, November 26, 2025
Fair Observer

In this episode of FO° Podcasts, Atul Singh and Edmund Ghareeb trace the unlikely journey of the Palestinian poetry anthology...

by Edmund Ghareeb & Atul Singh, November 19, 2025
Fair Observer

In this episode of FO° Podcasts, Rohan Khattar Singh and Zweli Martin Dlamini examine the secret deportation deal between the...

by Zweli Martin Dlamini & Rohan Khattar Singh, November 16, 2025
Fair Observer

Fair Observer, 461 Harbor Blvd, Belmont, CA 94002, USA

BOOKMARK

Want to save this post?
Click to Login

Sign into your Fair Observer Account

  • Lost your password?
Forgot Password

Forgot Password

Enter your registered email address or username. You will receive a link to create a new password via email.

Please enter your username or email address. You will receive an email message with instructions on how to reset your password.

  • Log in
Or
Return to Login

Forgot Password

We have sent a link to your registered email address to reset your password.

Back to Login

Become a Member & Enjoy Exclusive Benefits!

  • Access to comments feature
  • Bookmark your favorite articles
  • Exclusive invitations to FO° Talks & FO° Live
  • Access to all of our e-publications
Explore Membership
Return to Login

NEWSLETTER

Make Sense of the World

NEWSLETTER

Fair observer

Unique Insights from 2,500+ Contributors in 90+ Countries

We Need Your Consent
We use cookies to give you the best possible experience. Learn more about how we use cookies or edit your cookie preferences. Privacy Policy. My Options I Accept
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Total Views:

Published in Opinion
back to top

TOP

China and the Historical Significance of 1979

Wednesday, 03 June 2026 13:48

FO Podcasts: Why Narcoterrorism Still Matters

Monday, 11 May 2026 21:06

FO Podcasts: What Narcoterrorism Is and Why It Still Matters

Monday, 11 May 2026 13:57

The Transgender Erasure Act: India’s 2026 Identity Law

Monday, 04 May 2026 13:47

How to Stop Presidents, Like Trump, From Destroying America?

Wednesday, 29 April 2026 13:37

The Interview

Personality, Politics and the Future of the US–Colombia Relationship

  • Saturday, 30 May 2026 11:37

Cairo’s Double Game: Egypt Arms a Sanctioned General While Playing Peacemaker

  • Friday, 29 May 2026 13:05

Neither Fukuyama nor Huntington: The Age of Fragmented Interdependence

  • Thursday, 28 May 2026 12:36

Turkey’s Shadow War in Sudan

  • Saturday, 23 May 2026 12:34

Xi-Trump Summit in Beijing Was Great Theater, Little Substance

  • Friday, 22 May 2026 14:32