After 5 musicians found dead near U.S. border in Mexico, authorities make more arrests and seize weapons

Three suspects within the kidnapping and homicide of Mexican musicians in Tamaulipas state alongside the Texas border have been arrested throughout a collection of raids, officers mentioned on Monday.

The 5 members of native band Fugitivo had been employed for a weekend efficiency within the crime-wracked northeastern metropolis of Reynosa, however arrived to discover a vacant lot. Their our bodies have been discovered a number of days later after their households reported receiving ransom calls for.

An operation was carried out on three properties” in Reynosa, the general public safety workplace mentioned in a press release, including that the three suspects had been arrested there.

Investigators mentioned the musicians had been kidnapped on Might 25 whereas driving to a personal occasion. 9 alleged cartel members have been arrested final week, with authorities saying one other sting on Monday.

Prosecutors mentioned the 9 folks arrested final week have been believed to be a part of a faction of the Gulf Cartel, which has robust presence within the metropolis, however they didn’t point out if the three new suspects arrested had the identical hyperlinks.

Throughout the latest operation, weapons, weapons cartridges, cocaine and methamphetamines have been additionally seized, the ministry added.

Reynosa is a Mexican border metropolis adjoining to the USA and has been tormented by escalating violence since 2017 attributable to inner disputes amongst teams vying for management of drug trafficking, human smuggling and gasoline theft.

The U.S. State Division has revoked visas of various Mexican musicians for taking part in music that it says glorifies cartel violence.  Final week, the favored Mexican regional music band Grupo Firme introduced that it was canceling a efficiency in a music pageant in California after the USA authorities suspended the musicians’ visas.

In April, the U.S. State Division revoked the visas of members of the band Los Alegres del Barranco after they projected the face of a drug cartel boss onto a big display screen throughout a efficiency. 

Musicians focused in Mexico

Mexican regional music, which encapsulates a variety of types together with corridos and cumbia, has lately gained a highlight because it’s entered a type of worldwide musical renaissance. Younger artists generally pay homage to leaders of drug cartels, usually portrayed as Robin Hood-type figures.

It was not instantly clear if Fugitivo performed such songs or if the artists have been merely victims of rampant cartel violence that has eclipsed the town.

Mexican musicians have beforehand been focused by felony teams that pay them to compose and carry out songs that glorify the exploits of their leaders.

Such performers usually reside in shut proximity to their drug lord patrons, and may at occasions get caught up in gang turf battles.

“Narcocorridos” are a controversial sub-genre of music in Mexico, and the songs have caught the eye of President Claudia Sheinbaum, who not too long ago launched a music contest “for peace and towards addictions,” looking for to counter the recognition of the music amongst younger folks in Mexico and the USA.

A number of areas within the nation have banned “narcocorridos,” sparking a latest riot throughout a live performance after a singer refused to carry out a few of his hottest songs.

In January this yr, a small aircraft was reported to have dropped pamphlets on a northwestern metropolis threatening round 20 music artists and influencers for alleged dealings with a warring faction of the Sinaloa drug cartel.  

In 2018, armed males kidnapped two members of the musical group “Los Norteños de Río Bravo,” whose our bodies have been later discovered on the federal freeway connecting Reynosa to Río Bravo, Tamaulipas.

In 2013, 17 musicians from the group Kombo Kolombia have been executed by alleged cartel members within the northeastern state of Nuevo Leon, allegedly due to hyperlinks to a rival gang.

The Related Press contributed to this report.