CDS Claims 17 Dead Bodies Were Found in El Nando's Home & Police Turned A Blind Eye

"HEARST" and "Ivan" for Borderland Beat

The Sinaloa Cartel hung banners accusing El Nando, from the Caborca Cartel, of having paid law enforcement to turn a blind eye when 17 dead bodies were found at his house in Sonora. 

The Banners in Obregon

On April 10, 2023, cartel hitmen hung multiple narco banners on bridges in the city of Obregon, located in the municipality of Cajeme. The city is contested between the Caborca Cartel and the Sinaloa Cartel. 

The banners primarily target a Caborca Cartel – La Plaza-associated figure named  Fernando Salmerón Peréz, who has the aliases “El Nando”, “El Wacho”, and “El Ladrillero”. 

The banners featured three different images of Nando, including one from his time in prison.

The message on the banner read as follows, as translated by Ivan: 

City of Cajeme, 

This message is for everyone.. because the government is not doing anything against the #1 generator of violence of Cajeme “Fernando Salmerón” alias “El Nando Arenas “ boss of those who are called “La Plaza”

He is responsible for all the violence and the deaths of:

Abel Murrieta, Oficial Navarro (municipal police)

Andrés Moroyoqui (Commander)

José Cervantes

Jorge Armanta (journalist Obson media site )

2 officials of the conace in their area “ Las Arenas”

17 bodies found in one of his houses****

This is not sufficient for the government for them to take matters into their own hands but fear and money is above all law enforcement authorities instead of finishing violence in Cajeme

This is the #1 generator of VIOLENCE

The next day, on April 11, two more banners appeared. They also targeted El Nando, however these ones addressed the state’s governor and focused on claims if Nando having municipal police officers murdered. 

The banners were found at two different locations in Obregon - one on the fence outside Technical High School #4 and another on the corner of 400th Street corner and Miravalle. 

The banners read as follows, as translated by Ivan: 

Attention Governor 

Dr. ALFONSO DURAZO GOVERNOR OF SONORA HOW MANY TIMES DO WE HAVE TO REMIND YOU THAT THIS PERSON THAT KILLS YOUR POLICEMAN AND WITH ALL IMPUNITY KEEPS CAUSING TERROR IN THE CITY OF OBREGÓN TURNING THE COMMUNITY INTO GRAVEYARD FORCING MEN AND WOMEN TO WORK WITH HIM WITH THREATS, YOUR BIG PROBLEM IS CALLED FERNANDO SALMERÓN “NANDO ARENAS” 

POLICEMEN UNDER THE ORDERS OF “NANDO ARENAS”

 

Just last month, the Caborca Cartel made similar accusations in Obregon when they left a decapitated pig's head alongside a message which accused Obregon police of working with the Sinaloa Cartel Chapiza, writing:

"I'm curious to know if the Chapiza - Salazar mob will save you from that fucking beat down we're going to give to you."

The Cartel Landscape of Obregon

El Nando has been a known cartel entity in the city of Obregon for many years now. In 2021, he was rumored to the Caborca Cartel’s head of hitmen for the northern and western sectors of the city. Nando is suspected of being behind the murder of police officer Carlos Omar Aguilar Alardí in Laguna de Nairani.

Some sources allege he works under Francisco Javier Meraz, alias “El Antena de Bacum”, while others claim he works under Alfredo Olivas Valenzuela, alias “Chapo Alfredo”.

According to Sonora Informativo, Nando has risen in the ranks and now acts as the overall leader of Obregon. Reportedly, one of Nando’s high ranking reports is his nephew Carlos Salmerón Pérez, alias “El 20”. Their head of hitmen is reportedly Omar Alejandro Sayuela Torres, alias “El Mou”.

As far as who is likely behind these banners, the best candidate is the group contesting Nando for control of the Obregon – the Sinaloa Cartel Chapiza.

A Sinaloa Cartel hitmen alleged, in an interrogation video, that Ivan Archivaldo Guzman assigned two of his top lieutenants to take the city of Obregon for him as a part of his renewed push for territory in Sonora. 

Those two lieutenants are Óscar Noel Medina González, alias “El Panu”, and Óscar Gabriel  Martínez Larios, alias “El Gabito”. They reportedly stay within the state of Sinaloa and give orders from afar to their hitmen.

Its likely that the Caborca Cartel will respond to these banners by creating their own. One of the most effective ways for them to retaliate would be to publicly reveal the face of Óscar Noel Medina González, alias “El Panu”.

There are no known photos of Panu, or at least none that are considered to be reputable. The only photos that are alleged to show Panu come from a narco corrido music video, based upon claims that Panu made a cameo in the video. However, these claims lack credibility and have never been made by a news outlet, or even a narco banner.

It would be an incredibly powerful blow to the Sinaloa Cartel if Panu's face was exposed.

Sources: Sonora Informativo Post 1, Post 2, Calvarie Locus