In a significant development, the Tamaulipas State Prosecutor's Office announced the arrest of three individuals allegedly involved in the kidnapping and murder of all five members of the musical group Grupo Fugitivo. Among those detained is Santos ‘N,’ identified as the operational head of the Gulf Cartel and a trusted associate of César Morfín Morfín, known as “El Primito,” the leader of the cartel’s faction “Los Metros.” Authorities believe El Primito orchestrated the killings. These arrests follow the detention of nine other suspects last Thursday.

The operation, executed by the Army, National Guard, and state prosecutors, involved raids on three properties near Reynosa, the same city where the musicians disappeared on May 25. The Prosecutor’s Office disclosed that Santos ‘N,’ Raúl ‘N,’ and Jesús Alejandro ‘N’ were apprehended with a cache of weapons and narcotics, including two long guns, three pistols, 400 rounds of ammunition, three kilograms of cocaine, nearly four kilograms of methamphetamine, 14 doses of marijuana, 800,000 pesos in cash, and 12 vehicles.

Authorities described Santos ‘N,’ also known as M-47, as a pivotal figure within the Gulf Cartel’s “Los Metros” faction. His trusted association with El Primito places him at the center of the criminal network accused of orchestrating the abduction and murder of Grupo Fugitivo’s members. “Santos ‘N’ is regarded as the operational chief of the Gulf Cartel’s Metros faction and a key ally of César ‘N,’ alias El Primito, who is suspected to be the intellectual author of the illegal captivity and execution of the five musicians,” the official statement read.

The tragic case of Grupo Fugitivo sent shockwaves through Reynosa, a border city already grappling with rampant violence. On the night of May 25, the five band members—Francisco Vázquez (20), Nemesio Durán (40), Livan Solís de la Rosa (27), Víctor Garza (21), and José Francisco Morales (23)—vanished without a trace. Their disappearance occurred after performing at the bar La Chinita, located in the Riberas de Rancho Grande neighborhood. The band was scheduled to play another set later that evening in the Riberas del Río district.

Two days later, their vehicle was discovered six kilometers away from the venue. Four days after their disappearance, the Prosecutor’s Office announced the chilling discovery of five charred bodies at a clandestine landfill 12 kilometers away, in the Aquiles Serdán neighborhood. While authorities await DNA results to confirm the identities of the remains, the victims’ families remain adamant in their refusal to accept the tragic fate of their loved ones. They demand answers to why musicians without apparent links to organized crime became targets in such a violent act.

In a state plagued by violence, where over 18,500 individuals have been reported missing since 2000, the case has underscored the pervasive grip of criminal organizations. The Prosecutor’s Office intends to interrogate 12 members of Los Metros as investigations continue, seeking clarity on the motives behind this heinous crime.