When the Soviet Union collapsed in the late 80's and early 90's, both gangsters and hockey players headed to America (and Canada!) for new opportunities, making use of the skills they had developed back home. It didn't take long before both groups were on a collision course. As a bunch of 20-something Russian and Ukrainian players started earning more money ... Show More
May 26
The Rise and Fall of The Yakuza Devil's Child
Mako Nishimura graduated from high school delinquent to kamikaze biker gang, street tough and, eventually, a fully made member of a yakuza syndicate - the first (or perhaps second?) woman to do so. Nishimura made her gang huge amounts of cash selling women plus selling, and takin ... Show More
1h 2m
May 19
The Cartel Del Noreste's Kingdom of Terror w/ Andrew Glazer
Nuevo Laredo is one of the most feared cartel cities in Mexico, a place where disappearances, gun battles, and corruption became part of daily life as the Cartel del Noreste, or CDN, tightened its grip on the border. Born from the remnants of the brutal Zetas organization, CDN tu ... Show More
1 h
Aug 2020
Russian Doping Scandal Pt. 2
Building a massive doping operation to cheat the Olympics was one thing, but for Russia, keeping it secret was the bigger challenge. After one of its former athletes blew the whistle on the operation, Putin oversaw a massive cover-up that saw top officials fleeing the country. Le ... Show More
42m 44s
Sep 2020
“Merchant of Death” Pt. 1: Viktor Bout
When the Soviet Union collapsed in the early 1990s, there was a surplus of weapons and cargo planes collecting dust. One Russian government worker, Viktor Bout, saw the potential of all that discarded equipment. Within a few short years, Bout became one of the most infamous arms ... Show More
43m 42s
Jul 2020
Russian Doping Scandal Pt. 1
For Vladimir Putin and Russia, the Olympics were not simply a sports competition; they were a show of power on the world stage. And ahead of the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, the national team was criminally advantaged—by a top-secret, state-sponsored steroid program. Learn more ab ... Show More
40m 14s
Jul 2020
“Sammy the Bull” Pt. 2: Salvatore Gravano
Now a made man, Sammy "The Bull" Gravano believed he was destined for success. But as the 1980s rolled around, he became disenchanted with the leadership of the Gambino crime family. And after throwing his support toward the more media-happy John Gotti, he had a crisis of faith t ... Show More
43m 16s