Ed Calderon

Ed Calderon
Born
Tijuana, Mexico
OccupationSecurity consultant
EmployerBaja state police
Known forSpeaking on Mexican cartels
Children1
Websitewww.edsmanifesto.com

Ed Calderon is a security consultant, combat instructor, and former law enforcement officer specializing in counter-narcotics and organized crime units in Mexico. Calderon reports on cartel activity in the United States.

Early life

Calderon was born in Tijuana, Mexico. He was exposed to violence in his youth, experiencing his first cartel hit in-person when he was 12 years old. Calderon's mother, Elvira, carried a concealed knife to protect them. Calderon's brother died during his childhood.

Calderon initially enrolled in medical school, when in his second year, the September 11 attacks occurred. Residual effects from the attacks caused the Mexican economy to suffer. While Calderon was looking for jobs, he found a vague ad for young, unmarried individuals who "stalled out in university". This led to Calderon working for the Mexican government.

Career

Calderon spent 12 years as a police officer working in Baja California, Mexico, specializing in counter-narcotics and organized crime units. He reports on cartel activity within the United States. Calderon has been characterized by BBC as a specialist on the Mexico–United States border, dealing in its "underworld".

Calderon designed a knife with TOPS Knives, based on a paring knife, that incorporated details he found useful in his experiences, named El Pionero. He also partnered with Kopis Designs to design a "bird's beak" blade, named the L-Via after his mother, Elvira.

Calderon teaches self-defense classes, focusing on weaponology and counter-custody.

Podcast

Calderon runs the platform, Ed's Manifesto, which includes a podcast. The name stemmed from a notebook Calderon kept with him, detailing strategies used by cartel members, with the most interest being given to those for evading capture or escaping from restraints.

He has been a guest on podcasts such as The Joe Rogan Experience, Lex Fridman Podcast and The Shawn Ryan Show.

Joe Rogan has previously cited reporting from Calderon to criticize raids conducted by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement on undocumented immigrants within the country.

Personal life

Calderon survived an attempted hit on his life, causing him to move to the United States. He writes poetry and is a recovering alcoholic. Calderon has a daughter.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Lopez, Oscar (28 November 2020). "Guns, Drugs and Viral Content: Welcome to Cartel TikTok". New York Times.
  2. 1 2 3 Gomez, Mariela (6 June 2023). "Twelve Essential Safety Tips While Traveling in Mexico From Tijuana's Most Famous Security Expert (and Former Cop)". LA Taco.
  3. 1 2 Risafi, Nazar; Shardlow, Ju; Brzezinski, Dylan; Desiderio, Kyle; Black, Ella (16 August 2024). "How crime businesses actually work, from fake money to gun smuggling". Business Insider.
  4. ↑ Cabral, Javier (29 March 2022). "A Raw Interview with Ed's Manifesto About Tijuana's Narco-Violence, Tacos, and Its Ska-Punk Scene". LA Taco.
  5. 1 2 McCarthy, Patrick; Marshall, Tom (19 March 2018). "Survival Lessons From South of the Border". Recoil OffGrid.
  6. 1 2 Cooper, Forrest (13 March 2021). "Kopis Designs L-Via Hands On and Review". Recoil Web.
  7. 1 2 Merritt, Scott (23 May 2023). "Ed Calderon's After Party: Empowering Others with Lessons from the Cartel Wars". Second Act Stories.
  8. 1 2 Rahman, Billal (2 January 2026). "Joe Rogan Trashes Trump Admin Deporting Long-Term US Residents". Newsweek.
  9. ↑ Debusmann Jr, Bernd (9 July 2023). "TikTok and Title 42 rumours fuel human smuggling at the US border". BBC.
  10. ↑ Debusmann Jr, Bernd (11 April 2022). "Mexico's fight to sue US gun manufacturers for $10bn". BBC.
  11. ↑ Searson, Mike (29 June 2026). "Celebrating American-Made Blades For America 250, Part 1: The Northwest". Recoil Web.
  12. ↑ McCarthy, Patrick (13 February 2020). "Improvised Weapons with Ed Calderon". Recoil OffGrid.
  13. ↑ McCarthy, Patrick; Marshall, Tom (16 March 2020). "Ed Calderon Weaponology Class Recap". Recoil OffGrid.
  14. ↑ Bruce, David. "Once Upon a Time in Mexico: A Former Tijuana Cop Now Teaches Secrets of the Trade". Coffee or Die.
  15. ↑ Flanigan, Eve (10 February 2022). "Pioneer Woman Paring Knife: Why is That a Thing Now?". All Outdoor.

Podcasts