Corruption among public servants is nothing new in Mexico. And on February 2, residents of the state of Sonora were witnesses of another such episode as criminal groups put up "narcomantas" —messages left by drug cartels on a cloth banner, usually containing threats— in which they accused local police officers of working alongside the criminal group known as "Los Salazar."
The narcomantas were found in three different locations across the municipality of Caborca, about 100 miles southwest of the U.S.-Mexico border. The banners were addressed to Sonora governor Alfonso Durazo Montaño, warning him of the alleged partnership of Los Salazar and members of local law enforcement.
"Alfonso Durazo: if you want peace in Sonora, terminate the corrupt members that work with Los Salazar," one of the banners read. "All they have done is clear the way for their partners and establish points of sale for drugs around the city," it added.
According to reports from Infobae Mexico, state police members are allegedly colluded with Los Salazar. Information also suggests that the criminal group could be protected by a police commander.
The use of narcomantas is a common practice in northern Mexico. Just last month, The Latin Times reported that authorities found a banner signed by the criminal group known as "Los Matazalas," in which they accused musician Natanael Cano of allegedly working with Los Salazar.
"Dedicate yourselves to music. If you don't pay attention to this warning you will be shot," the narcomanta said.
Who are Los Salazar?
Although the group counts with strong links to the Sinaloa cartel, Los Salazar is a clique independent from the cartel and counts with its own armed wing.
According to information from InSight Crime, the group was founded during the 1990's by Adán and José Crispín Salazar Zamorano. They began trafficking marijuana in Navojoa but quickly spread all throughout the state of Sonora.
The group plays a crucial role in controlling drug trafficking routes along the U.S.-Mexico border and its operations primarily involve smuggling methamphetamine, heroin and fentanyl.
According to authorities, Los Salazar is considered to be a very dangerous group, earning their reputation thanks to its violent enforcement methods. Data from the Mexican government indicates that violence instilled by Los Salazar in their drug trafficking business displaced more than 1,500 people from the Sonoyta and Chínipas counties in 2015.
The Sinaloa Cartel clique has been known for targeting journalists reporting on its illicit businesses. The group has been linked to the murders of Miroslava Breach Velducea in 2017 as well as the activist Nepomuceno Moreno Núñez.
The group's leader, Adán Crispín Salazar alias "Don Adán," was extradited to the U.S. back in 2023, when the group was still identified as a close ally to "Los Chapitos."
Besides drug smuggling, Los Salazar are responsible for human trafficking, more concretely migrants, along the U.S.-Mexico border.
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