Mexican authorities have arrested nine suspected members of the Gulf Cartel for the kidnapping and murder of five musicians from the local band Fugitivo. The band vanished last Sunday after being hired to perform in Reynosa, Tamaulipas—one of Mexico’s most dangerous states.

The victims, aged 20 to 40, were lured to a fake concert location and later held for ransom before being killed. Investigators used surveillance and cellphone data to trace their movements, ultimately finding their bodies and arresting the suspects. Firearms and vehicles were also seized.

Violence against musicians in cartel-controlled regions is not new, with performers often forced to glorify drug lords through “narcocorrido” songs. Authorities warn such ties can be deadly, as rival cartels target artists linked to their enemies.