Hello Whitefish Podcast · August 2025
Cartels in Montana: The Trafficking Pipeline No One Is Talking About
Nic McKinley joins wildlife conservation officer and author John Nores to talk about cartel activity inside Montana - the trafficking corridors, the proximity to Flathead Valley communities, and what local law enforcement is and isn't equipped to handle.
Watch on YouTubeHosted by John Nores
Key Takeaways
- Cartel-connected trafficking corridors run through rural Montana - closer to Flathead Valley communities than most residents realize.
- Local law enforcement in rural areas often lacks the intelligence infrastructure to identify or track these networks.
- Conservation officers see cartel activity in backcountry terrain that is effectively invisible to traditional law enforcement.
- The intelligence methodology DeliverFund applies nationally can be scaled to rural environments where traditional enforcement has no footprint.
MontanaCartelsTraffickingLocal Law Enforcement
From the episode
Montana is in the crosshairs of the Sinaloa and Jalisco New Generation Cartels.
Former CIA operative and Air Force PJ Nic McKinley reveals the cartel playbook — and why Montana is now a prime target.
We break down how cartels are exploiting Montana’s vulnerable communities, the shocking profits driving it, and what must be done before it’s too late.