The Attorney General office of the state of Sonora announced today that they have issued "protective measures" for artists such as Natanael Cano, Tito Torbellino Jr., Javier Rosas, and others who have received threats of execution from organized crime groups in Mexico.
The situation began on Sunday, January 5, 2024, when a banner was displayed at a high school in the city of Hermosillo, Sonora. The banner accused Cano and other artists and influencers of supporting the criminal group Los Salazar.
The "narcomanta" (narco-banner) was signed by Los Matasalas, a group identified by authorities as the armed wing in Sonora of Los Chapitos, a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel led by the sons of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán.
What Did the Threat from Los Matasalas Say?
"Stick to your profession as musicians. Note, this is not about making corridos; it is about collaborating with money, financially, and through any illegal actions. If you ignore this warning, you will be executed. Signed, Jalisco Mata Salaz," the narcomanta stated.
The message directly mentioned Cano, Tito Torbellino, and Javier Rosas, as well as other local groups from Hermosillo, Guaymas, Ciudad Obregón, and Navojoa.
"A banner appeared at a school, containing threats against these individuals and others associated with a musical genre known as 'corridos bélicos' or 'corridos tumbados,'" said Sonora's Attorney General Gustavo Salas during a press conference. "Protective measures have been issued in accordance with the law for these individuals, and we will monitor their enforcement with support from various public security institutions to prevent any attacks against them."
"We have reached out through their lawyers. In one case, we are working to locate the other two individuals, and as soon as we contact them, they will be informed of the protective measures granted," he explained.
Two Rival Criminal Organizations
Both Los Chapitos and their armed wing, Los Matasalas, as well as Los Salazar, originated within the Sinaloa Cartel.
According to Mexican security sources, the original leader of Los Salazar was Adán Salazar Zamorano, known as "Don Adán." Under orders from El Chapo, Don Adán managed drug cultivation, production, and transportation routes to Arizona, as well as human trafficking operations. Don Adán has been imprisoned since 2011. His son, Crispín Salazar, known as "El Tío," is believed to currently lead the group.
The conflict between Los Salazar and Los Chapitos reportedly began in 2024, when Iván Archivaldo Guzmán Salazar, El Chapo's son and leader of Los Chapitos, banned fentanyl production and trafficking in Sinaloa—an order ignored by El Tío's faction. Since then, an armed struggle has erupted in Sonora.
Although Natanael Cano has faced minor legal issues and some of his songs touch on themes of drug trafficking, this is the first time his name has appeared on one of these banners used by criminal groups to issue public messages.
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