Ramón Ayala and Los Cadetes de Linares: The surprising “narco-posada” by Arturo Beltrán Leyva, El Barbas

What began as a private musical performance for three regional Mexican music groups ended in an armed confrontation that marked a key episode in Mexico’s history.

During Felipe Calderón’s administration, in the context of the six-year “fight against drug trafficking,” one of the events that left its mark occurred on the night of December 10, 2009, when Los Cadetes de Linares, Ramón Ayala, and Grupo Torrente were hired to play at a residence located in the Los Limoneros neighborhood of Cuernavaca, Morelos.

Although they attended because it was just another private event for which they would be paid, they were surprised to discover that it was actually a “narco-posada” organized by “El Barbas,” that is, Arturo Beltrán Leyva.

According to the story shared by José Carlos Salinas Rodríguez, lead singer of Grupo Torrente, with journalist Santiago Fourcade, the musicians didn’t know who they were playing for until they recognized the audience.

Among them were key cartel figures, such as Édgar Valdez Villarreal, alias “La Barbie.” The night was filled with music and celebration until an Armed Forces operation raided the venue.