By “El Huaso” for Borderland Beat
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| The Banda de la Flor |
The Attorney Generals Office (FGR) announced today that Pablo Solórzano Castro “El Gallo” was sentenced to 446 years in prison for the crimes of kidnapping, involvement in organized crime, and being in the possession of cartridges for the exclusive use of the military. He and his criminal group were responsible for numerous kidnappings and murders in the late 2000s and early 2010s in Central Mexico, often working with the support of police.
The press release details that members of Solórzano Castro’s criminal group, the Banda de la Flor, would establish roadblocks or checkpoints in Mexico City and Mexico state while dressed as security forces. They would then kidnap the victims for ransom.
Today, he was found guilty of his charges, ordered to pay 875,978 pesos ($44,547 dollars) and sentenced to 446 years 8 months in prison.
Earlier this year in September, two other Banda de la Flor members, Abel Silva Petriciolet and Noe Robles Hernandez were sentenced to 384 and 380 years in prison respectively for their involvement in the Martí Haik case, according to Capital Mexico.
Background & the Banda de la Flor
The Banda de la Flor (Gang of the Flower) or Los Petriciolet was notorious for kidnapping in Central Mexico. Several newspapers at the time referred to them as one of the most feared groups in Mexico City. A 2009 article in La Nación claims they were responsible for at least 36 kidnapping and 10 murders, while government numbers are lower. El Universal reported at the time that they would leave a yellow Chrysanthemum flower at the scene of their murders as a calling card.
The Banda de la Flor’s connections with law enforcement are murky. According to a 2009 Federal Police Press release, members of the group masqueraded as Federal Police officers, which matches today’s FGR press release. However, at the time, press alleged that members of the Banda de la Flor were Federal Police officers, not just masquerading as them. In the words of a friend of a Banda de la Flor kidnapping victim, “Silvia was a victim not only of the kidnappers but also of our authorities”.
Among many others, they were responsible for the high-profile kidnapping and murder of Fernando Martí Haik, the son of businessman Alejandro Martí Haik. In that case, the 14-year-old Fernando, as well as his driver and body guard were stopped at a roadblock on the way to school in 2008. They were taken by men dressed as police officers. The driver and bodyguard were tortured and killed.
El Universal reported at the time that despite paying a 6 million peso ($600,000 dollar) ransom, Fernando was never released, and his body was later found in the trunk of a car in Mexico City 2 months after his kidnapping. Beside the body was a narco message signed from “La Familia” which claimed that no ransom was received.
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| Alejandro Martí Haik |
The case gained widespread attention at the time, and the in the following years several members of the Banda de la Flor were captured. In 2011, MVS Noticias reported that 15 members of the group had been captured by the now defunct Federal Police.
Sources: FGR Press Release 7/12, El Financiero, El Universal Archive, La Nación, Capital Mexico, MVS Noticias, 2009 Policía Federal Press Release, Time 2009