Mexican band Grupo Fugitivo found dead
Five members of the Mexican music band Grupo Fugitivo were found dead in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, as reported by the state prosecutor's office. The band, known for playing regional music, went missing on May 25, with their empty vehicle discovered two days later. Prosecutor Irving Barrios stated that the musicians were likely kidnapped and taken to a building before being killed. Nine suspects, all linked to the Clan del Golfo cartel, have been arrested, and investigations are ongoing.
The musicians, aged between 20 and 40, were last seen at a bar in Reynosa, near the U.S. border. Following their disappearance, family members received ransom demands, prompting protests for quicker action from authorities. The state officials confirmed the discovery of five bodies, believed to match the missing band members' characteristics. The group had been hired for a concert, but family members reported that the venue turned out to be a deserted lot.
Tamaulipas is notorious for violence linked to criminal groups involved in drug trafficking and extortion. Musicians in Mexico have faced threats from cartels, with some being pressured to glorify criminal activities in their songs. The disappearance of Grupo Fugitivo has sparked outrage in the region, leading to public protests, including a blockade of the international bridge connecting Reynosa and Pharr, Texas.
The last communication from the band to their families occurred, when they mentioned heading to a venue for a performance. The conditions of the bodies found have not been disclosed, but they reportedly shared characteristics typical of artists. This incident adds to the troubling history of violence against musicians in Tamaulipas, a state plagued by cartel warfare and internal disputes over control of drug trafficking and human smuggling.
