5 musicians murdered in suspected Mexican cartel killing

5 musicians who disappeared within the Mexican metropolis of Reynosa, close to the US border, had been murdered by suspected drug cartel members, Mexican authorities have stated.

9 alleged members of the infamous Gulf Cartel have been arrested on suspicion of homicide, in keeping with Irving Barrios Mojica, lawyer common for the Mexican state of Tamaulipas.

The musicians – generally known as Grupo Fugitivo – had been kidnapped whereas travelling to a non-public occasion on 25 Might, Barrios Mojica stated. Quickly after, their relations reported receiving ransom calls for.

Investigators are working to determine a motive for the killings.

The musicians had been aged between 20 and 40, and sometimes performed at native events and dances.

9 firearms and two automobiles had been additionally seized in the course of the arrests.

Grupo Fugitivo carried out a spread of regional Mexican music, a style which incorporates corridos – songs which have traditionally been used to pay homage to drug cartels and their leaders.

It isn’t instantly clear if the group was focused due to their music, or had been caught up within the violence that has lengthy beset Tamaulipas, the place the Gulf Cartel has a powerful presence.

The Trump administration has designated the Gulf Cartel, alongside a number of different legal teams, a “international terrorist organisation”.

In January, the US embassy in Mexico issued a stage 4 journey advisory, the best stage, warning its residents to not journey to a number of Mexican cities, together with Reynosa.

It cited the danger of “crime and kidnapping” and “more and more frequent gun battles occurring in and round” the town.

“Closely armed members of legal teams usually patrol areas of the state and function with impunity notably alongside the border area from Reynosa to Nuevo Laredo,” the US state division stated.

“In these areas, native regulation enforcement has restricted capability to answer incidents of crime.”