From surfer to cartel kingpin… then a 60-year sentence. In this wild episode, Mark Branon shares his unbelievable rise as one of the biggest marijuana traffickers in the U.S.—moving up to 30,000 lbs across the country while working with the Sinaloa cartel. From flying loads over the border to building million-dollar smuggling operations, his story sounds straight out of a movie. But everything changed when a prosecutor targeted him… and he made a decision that would haunt him forever. Inside this episode: -Running multi-ton marijuana operations coast-to-coast -Working directly with cartel networks in Mexico -Close calls with DEA, informants, and betrayals -The attempted hit on a prosecutor that went horribly wrong -How his own lawyer flipped and helped take him down -Life sentence, prison politics, and eventual release This is a raw, unfiltered look at the rise and fall of a real-life drug boss—and the consequences that followed. Go Support Mark! https://thrivingagain.health/ This Episode Is #Sponsored By The Following: StopBox! Get firearm security redesigned and save 10% off @StopBoxUSA with code CONNECT at https://stopboxusa.com/connect #stopboxpod HelloFresh! Go to https://hellofresh.com/connect10fm now to Get 10 Free meals + Free Nutribullet® Ultra Plus+ 2-in-1 Compact Kitchen System (a $189.99 value) on your 3rd box. Free meals applied as a discount on the first box, new subscribers only, varies by plan. Disclaimer: Must order the 3rd box by May 31st, 2026. Cash App! Download Cash App Today: https://capl.onelink.me/vFut/1ekoiacn #CashAppPod. Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. See terms and conditions at https://cash.app/legal/us/en-us/card-agreement. Cash App Green, overdraft coverage, borrow, cash back offers and promotions provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand. Visit http://cash.app/legal/podcast for full disclosures. Join The Patreon For Bonus Content! https://www.patreon.com/theconnectshow 00:00 Meet Mark & His Wild Story 01:55 Mark’s Early Life & Upbringing 07:07 Surf Culture & First Steps into the Drug Game 14:40 This Episode Is Sponsored By StopBox 16:20 First Bust & Learning Prison Networking 19:24 Smuggling by Air: Thrill, Guns & Close Calls 25:01 From Air Drops to Cartel Connections 31:09 Working with the Arellano Felix Organization 38:38 Cabo, Corruption, and Building a Double Life 40:12 This Episode Is Sponsored By HelloFresh 41:55 DEA Surveillance & Cat-and-Mouse 54:59 This Episode Is Sponsored By Cash App 56:22 Transition to Sinaloa & Rafa’s Crew 01:03:30 The Art of Moving Major Weight 01:10:06 Logistics: Networks, Stashing & Scaling Up 01:17:08 Downfall: Betrayal from Within the Crew 01:26:01 Legal Nightmare: State and Federal Cases 01:34:35 The Prosecutor Plot & The Botched Hit 01:45:41 Legal Proceedings Get Dirtier 01:52:47 Conviction, Prison, & How Mark Got Out 02:08:04 Release, Reflections & What’s Next 02:22:21 Closing Thoughts & What’s Coming in Part 2 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices