A popular Mexican band, Los Alegres del Barranco, has released an anti-narcotic song in a bid to clear its name after being accused of glorifying a wanted drug lord. The move comes as the band faces investigation for displaying images of Nemesio Oseguera, head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, during a concert.
The United States has designated the cartel as a terrorist organization and revoked the band’s visas due to their actions. Prosecutors in Jalisco state have also opened an investigation into the group. Oseguera, also known as “El Mencho,” has a $15 million U.S. bounty on his head.
In a bid to curry favor with authorities, the band released a new song titled “El Consejo” (The Advice), which warns of the consequences of becoming involved in drug trafficking. The lyrics state that those who engage in such activities will either end up in prison or be added to the “pantheon” of dead traffickers.
The Jalisco prosecutor’s office reacted positively to the new track, saying it may lead to a suspension of the investigation into the band. However, prosecutors noted that the group remains under investigation for suspected illicit funding.
The move is seen as an attempt by the band to distance itself from the controversy surrounding its previous actions. The Jalisco cartel has been accused of violence and brutality, and several Mexican states have cracked down on “narcocorridos,” a subgenre of regional Mexican folk music that includes shout outs to drug traffickers.
The issue is complex, with performers of drug ballads themselves being targets of gang violence. In recent months, five members of the group Fugitivo were found dead in Tamaulipas state after being hired to perform a concert. Their deaths were blamed on suspected drug traffickers.
Mexico’s President Claudia Sheinbaum has launched a music competition “for peace and against addictions” in an attempt to counter the popularity of “narcocorridos.” The second phase of the competition is set to start July 5, with the finale scheduled for Oct. 5 in Durango, Mexico.
Source: CBS News
