Mexican band changes its tune after projecting wanted cartel leader’s face onto screen at concert

A popular Mexican group under investigation for Glorify a sought -after drug lord has published an anti-narco song in order to erase its name.

The group, Los Alegres del Barranco, is accused of tolerating crime on a song praising Nemesio Oseguera, chief of the powerful Cartel Jalisco New Generation in western Mexico.

In April, the United States, which has appointed the cartel as a terrorist organization, revoked the group’s visas to display images of Oseguera during a concert and last month, the prosecutors of the State of Jalisco opened an investigation into the group. OSEGEERA – Better known as “El Mencho” – has an American bonus of $ 15 million on its head.

In order to arouse the favor of the authorities, the group released a new song on Youtube on Sunday entitled “El Consejo” (the councils). His words warn that there are only two ways open to those who are involved in drug trafficking: “The pantheon (dead traffickers) or prison”.

The Jalisco prosecutor’s office reacted positively to the new piece, which had collected nearly 80,000 views on Monday, saying that “by broadcasting a positive message in a song, the investigation may be suspended”.

However, the group remains under investigation for alleged illicit funding, prosecutors said.

The cartel of Jalisco, one of the most powerful drug cartels in the country, quickly became an extremely violent and capable force after she separated from the Sinaloa cartel after the murder in 2010 of the leader of the Sinaloa Ignacio “Nacho” Coronel Villarreal leader by the army.

Several Mexican states have repressed the “narcocorridos”, a controversial sub-genre of regional Mexican folk music which includes cries of drug traffickers.

Earlier this month, the popular Tucanas of Tijuana Band was sentenced to a fine of more than $ 36,000 for interpreting songs glorifying drugs in the city in northern Chihuahua.

The artists of drug ballads were also targets of gang violence.

At the end of May, five group members Fugitive were found dead in the state of Tamaulipas, a few days after being hired to play a concert. Their death was blamed for alleged drug traffickers.

Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum launched A musical competition In April “for peace and against dependencies” in order to counter the popularity of “narcocoridos”. The candidates are from Mexico and the United States.

The second phase of the competition should start on July 5 after a panel of judges selects the participants who are advancing. The final is scheduled for October 5 in Durango, Mexico.

The Associated Press

contributed to this report.