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    • Behind the story: What it's like to interview members of Mexico's notorious drug cartels

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    CIUDAD JUAREZ, MEXICO -

    This is part four of a five-part series following the harrowing journeys of migrants who risk their lives crossing the Darien Gap and riding atop Mexico's notorious 'Train of Death.' W5 Investigative Unit Managing Editor and Senior Correspondent Avery Haines explores migrant smuggling, which is turning into a financial windfall for human smugglers known as 'coyotes.'

    I鈥檝e interviewed several cartels over the years, from high-ranking drug bosses to low-level sicarios, or executioners.

    Each time there have been some heartstopping moments.

    In Cancun for the W5 documentary, "Narco Riviera," I tried not to let my panic show when my interview with a Sinaloa drug boss was interrupted by a knock at the door of the narco 鈥渟afe house.鈥

    For Narco Avocado I interviewed Mexico鈥檚 most ruthless cartel, Jalisco New Generation (CJNG) in an avocado orchard deep in their territory.

    Some of the armed, masked men protecting their leader, at a concrete structure overlooking an avocado plantation. (W5)

    And for last season鈥檚 documentary on the , Colombia鈥檚 Gulf Clan cartel interview shed new light on their lucrative human smuggling business.

    For my latest investigation, "Narco Jungle: The Death Train," I convinced a human smuggler to talk to me about the fees they charge migrants to get them across the border. He tried to portray himself as a humanitarian helping migrants reach their 鈥淎merican Dream.鈥 He is not.

    Cartels endanger migrants at every stage of their journey with kidnappings, torture, and extortion.

    , an organization that researches organized criminal organizations in Mexico and South America, estimates there are 鈥渟everal hundred crime groups鈥 operating across Mexico, many of which are supplementing their core business of drug trafficking with migrant smuggling.

    W5 cameraman Jerry Vienneau shoots video of heavily armed Mexican cartel soldiers in Michoacan, Mexico.

    Migrants we interviewed in Mexico described being 鈥渢axed鈥 as they made their way through different cartel territories.

    Those who pay are given coloured wristbands and allowed to continue through their region. Those without money have shared stories of being locked up and forced to contact family members or friends to pay the cartel fees.

    The U.S. Homeland Security Committee estimates that human trafficking and smuggling is a US$13 billion a year industry for the cartels.

    CTVNews.ca Top Stories

    Police have confirmed the body of an employee who died at a Walmart in Halifax over the weekend was found in a walk-in oven.

    At least seven large-scale butter thefts have been reported in Guelph, Ont. over a 10-month period, including two hauls in just the last month.

    Quebec Premier Francois Legault promised on Tuesday to toughen secularism measures in schools, saying he was 'shocked' by revelations about a Montreal public school where a group of teachers had tried to introduce what the premier described as 'Islamist' beliefs.

    Canada

    • A Superior Court justice in Milton has been ordered to participate in coaching from a more senior judge after the Canadian Judicial Council found that his tone was 'abusive and intimidating' during a family court hearing last September.

    • Quebec Premier Francois Legault promised on Tuesday to toughen secularism measures in schools, saying he was 'shocked' by revelations about a Montreal public school where a group of teachers had tried to introduce what the premier described as 'Islamist' beliefs.

    • Police have confirmed the body of an employee who died at a Walmart in Halifax over the weekend was found in a walk-in oven.

    • Former volunteers with Eastern Ontario Cats (EOC) are working to track cats they say are either dead or missing after allegations of abuse, neglect and falsified medical records surfaced in recent months.

    • The Quebec government says it wants to hear from Quebecers about the possibility of scrapping the twice-yearly time change.

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    Local Spotlight

    Residents of Ottawa's Rideauview neighbourhood say an aggressive wild turkey has become a problem.

    A man who lost his life while trying to rescue people from floodwaters, and a 13-year-old boy who saved his family from a dog attack, are among the Nova Scotians who received a medal for bravery Tuesday.

    A newly minted Winnipegger is hoping a world record attempt will help bring awareness for the need for more pump track facilities in the city.

    A Springfield, Ont. man is being hailed a 'hero' after running into his burning home to save his two infant children.

    Hortense Anglin was the oldest graduate to make her way across the platform at York University's Fall Convocation ceremony this week. At the age of 87, she graduated with an Honours degree in Religious Studies.

    Looking for a scare with good intentions this Halloween season? The ghosts and ghouls of Eganville, Ont. invite families to tour the Haunted Walk at Lekbor Manor.

    The image of a sleepy Saskatchewan small town with 'not a lot going on' is a well-known anecdote. However, one Saskatchewan company is hoping to change that 鈥 and allow communities both on and off the beaten path to share their stories and advertise what they have to offer.

    A Moncton, N.B., home has been donated to the Friends of The Moncton Hospital Foundation and will be transformed into a resource hub for people living with cancer.

    A Nova Scotia man crossing Canada on foot is passing through southwestern Ontario. Trevor Redmond is perhaps better known as the 鈥楩ellow in Yellow.鈥

    • With the B.C. election too close to call, Dr. Bonnie Henry was asked Tuesday how she feels about the possibility of a party that has repeatedly called for her firing forming government.

    • The B.C. Greens say Sonia Furstenau will be staying on as party leader, despite losing her seat in the legislature in Saturday's provincial election.

    • Police say a youth has been arrested after a report of online threats against a school in the Metro Vancouver community of Richmond, B.C.

    • Police have released video footage of a recent home invasion in Richmond Hill as they search for three outstanding suspects who they say may have returned to the residence the following day to take another vehicle.

    • A Superior Court justice in Milton has been ordered to participate in coaching from a more senior judge after the Canadian Judicial Council found that his tone was 'abusive and intimidating' during a family court hearing last September.

    • A group of professional engineers plan to soon withdraw services from key Ontario infrastructure projects Highway 413 and the Bradford Bypass as part of a bargaining dispute with the province.

    • A new study suggests the Government of Alberta purposely pushed false narratives around public safety to scale down safe supply in the province.

    • An electrical grid alert was issued throughout Alberta on Tuesday morning as temperatures cooled.

    • Calgary police are investigating a Monday crash that sent a man to hospital in life-threatening condition.

    • Memorials and tributes are taking place across Ottawa on Tuesday to remember Cpl. Nathan Cirillo, an honour guard stationed at the National War Memorial, killed 10 years ago today.

    • Residents of Ottawa's Rideauview neighbourhood say an aggressive wild turkey has become a problem.

    • Ottawa councillor Jeff Leiper has not shied away from calling out the province for what he thinks is an ill-advised piece of legislation that would restrict where municipalities in Ontario can build bike lanes.

    • Quebec Premier Francois Legault promised on Tuesday to toughen secularism measures in schools, saying he was 'shocked' by revelations about a Montreal public school where a group of teachers had tried to introduce what the premier described as 'Islamist' beliefs.

    • The Quebec government says it wants to hear from Quebecers about the possibility of scrapping the twice-yearly time change.

    • A Montreal suburb has started an operation to kill white-tailed deer in one of its local parks, after years of legal battles with activists seeking to save the animals.

    • Edmonton police are looking for information on a man they say is connected to a July house fire in the Fraser neighbourhood.

    • Edmonton Public Schools (EPS) custodians have voted 97 per cent in favour of going on strike.

    • Alberta photographers Holly Austin and Ginette Linares don't want women to be scaredy cats when it comes to stripping down.

    • Police have confirmed the body of an employee who died at a Walmart in Halifax over the weekend was found in a walk-in oven.

    • A member of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party is crossing the floor and joining the Progressive Conservatives.

    • Communities east of Alberta set record high temperatures for an Oct. 21 while Alberta itself contended with the first snowfall of the season in some areas.

    • The Manitoba government is restoring the 1:1 apprentice-to-journeyperson ratio.

    • A number of Manitoba communities kicked off the week by breaking decades-old heat records.

    • Brandon police are looking to find the owners of a small litter of puppies found abandoned in the city on Tuesday.

    • Saskatchewan's Conflict of Interest Commissioner (COIC) has found that former Saskatchewan Party MLA Gary Grewal violated legislative rules by profiting from hotels while they were party to government contracts.

    • Two holes found in the window of a Saskatchewan Party campaign office were not caused by a gun, Regina police have reported.

    • Hundreds of voter information cards have landed in the wrong hands.

    • No one was hurt after playground equipment went up in flames at a Kitchener, Ont. park.

    • At least seven large-scale butter thefts have been reported in Guelph, Ont. over a 10-month period, including two hauls in just the last month.

    • People living in Doon South say they鈥檝e seen a group of teens running around and knocking down Halloween displays.

    • Hundreds of voter information cards have landed in the wrong hands.

    • A city planning document for the Bus Rapid Transit system (BRT) sparked controversy over the weekend, with three civic election candidates alleging Confederation Mall was at risk of being demolished and replaced with dense housing.

    • Two holes found in the window of a Saskatchewan Party campaign office were not caused by a gun, Regina police have reported.

    • Now that the jury has begun deliberating in the Sudbury murder trial of Felicity Altiman, here are some of the interesting courtroom moments they didn't get to hear.

    • After operating for 51 years, General Motors has announced it is closing the Kapuskasing Proving Ground, a facility the automaker used to test the durability of its vehicles in cold weather.

    • Police have confirmed the body of an employee who died at a Walmart in Halifax over the weekend was found in a walk-in oven.

    • A father and his two children who suffered severe burns in a Springfield, Ont. house fire have undergone surgery.

    • The head of the union representing thousands of teachers believes the embattled Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) is 鈥渕oving in the right direction.鈥

    • 鈥淲hen Stoney Creek was built 15 years ago the development hadn鈥檛 expanded out this far, but now development has reached us, and surpassed us, and therefore demand is there to increase what space we have,鈥 Galloway explained.

    • Emergency crews rushed to the scene of a serious collision in Barrie鈥檚 south end involving a passenger vehicle and a motorcycle.

    • Police laid two dozen charges in connection with a month-long investigation into a criminal auto theft enterprise.

    • Police have arrested one person after an alleged bank robbery in Orillia.

    • 鈥榁ampire Zombies鈥rom Space!鈥 and 鈥楾hundersnake鈥, two films that are showing at the Windsor International Film Festival (WIFF), were both shot across the city and in the County of Essex.

    • NextStar Energy is celebrating the official start of battery module production.

    • Researchers at the University of Windsor have been given $2.5 million from the Public Health Agency of Canada to advance a sexual violence prevention program.

    • With the B.C. election too close to call, Dr. Bonnie Henry was asked Tuesday how she feels about the possibility of a party that has repeatedly called for her firing forming government.

    • The B.C. Greens say Sonia Furstenau will be staying on as party leader, despite losing her seat in the legislature in Saturday's provincial election.

    • Mounties are investigation after a 19-year-old driver was killed in a crash on Vancouver Island on Monday night.

    • Dave Lindsey began growing giant pumpkins to bring a bit of magic to his grandkids' Halloween.

    • A U.S. District Court judge in Montana has sentenced a 27-year-old man from Kelowna, B.C., to 18 months in prison for using fake names to buy guns with the aim of selling them in Canada.

    • Nearly two years after a man was stabbed to death in downtown Kelowna, RCMP have made an arrest in the case.

    • Lethbridge police are advising the public of officer training on Tuesday that will happen in two different venues throughout the day.

    • Calgary scored three times in the first, and three times in the third as the Hitmen defeated the Lethbridge Hurricanes 6-1 Saturday at the Saddledome.

    • The last students to graduate from Lethbridge College will make history this weekend as they cross the stage at fall convocation.

    • Rallies by a group called Voices Against Violence took place across the country on Monday, including Sault Ste. Marie.

    • An Indigenous group in northwestern Ontario shut down the highway for a couple of hours Monday morning in protest after ancestral remains were found at a construction site.

    • The owners of 73 vacant properties in the Sault have been fined for violations of the city's vacant properties bylaw, including 33 owned by a firm going through a high-profile insolvency process.

    N.L.

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