The bodies of four musicians from Grupo Fugitivo and their manager were uncovered last Thursday in Tamaulipas, four days after they went missing. The victims’ families had received ransom demands during the search for their loved ones. Kidnappings for ransom are frequent in the violence-prone region, yet the incident sparked outrage as the band members were reportedly lured to an abandoned site under the pretense of a private gig.
M-47, the suspect believed to have ordered the murders, was arrested during police raids on three properties, where authorities also confiscated drugs, cash, weapons, and vehicles. M-47 is suspected to be a leader of the "Metros" gang affiliated with the Gulf Cartel, which has a presence in Tamaulipas and is involved in drug and migrant trafficking as well as kidnappings.
The motive behind the targeting of Grupo Fugitivo remains uncertain. The band’s singer, who arrived late and escaped unharmed, reported that they had been hired for a performance at an address that turned out to be a vacant lot. Their abandoned vehicle and equipment trailer were later found nearby.
Grupo Fugitivo was known for norteña music—a lively genre often embraced by criminal organizations. Early-career bands like theirs often rely on private parties for income, some of which are linked to cartel figures. Unfortunately, this environment has led to incidents of violence against musicians, with rival gangs sometimes taking lethal action against artists who glorify drug lords in their lyrics. So far, authorities have made a total of 12 arrests related to these murders.
M-47, the suspect believed to have ordered the murders, was arrested during police raids on three properties, where authorities also confiscated drugs, cash, weapons, and vehicles. M-47 is suspected to be a leader of the "Metros" gang affiliated with the Gulf Cartel, which has a presence in Tamaulipas and is involved in drug and migrant trafficking as well as kidnappings.
The motive behind the targeting of Grupo Fugitivo remains uncertain. The band’s singer, who arrived late and escaped unharmed, reported that they had been hired for a performance at an address that turned out to be a vacant lot. Their abandoned vehicle and equipment trailer were later found nearby.
Grupo Fugitivo was known for norteña music—a lively genre often embraced by criminal organizations. Early-career bands like theirs often rely on private parties for income, some of which are linked to cartel figures. Unfortunately, this environment has led to incidents of violence against musicians, with rival gangs sometimes taking lethal action against artists who glorify drug lords in their lyrics. So far, authorities have made a total of 12 arrests related to these murders.
