Who are the Granados, and how did they become entangled in the mysterious disappearance of eight farmers in Guerrero? In Guerrero’s Costa Grande region, the name “Granados” evokes years of violence, secrecy, and territorial disputes. Their primary stronghold is the municipality of Tecpán de Galeana, though their operations extend forcefully into neighboring towns such as Atoyac de Álvarez and Coyuca de Benítez.
For decades, this criminal group has waged a fierce battle against rival organizations to control not only transit routes but also poppy cultivation and opium gum production in the mountain highlands. Public alarm was reignited in October 2026 following the disappearance of eight farmers from the El Balcón ejido, a community located in the Guerrero mountains. The residents had been reported missing since September 24.
Shortly thereafter, a disturbing video began circulating on social media showing the detained farmers being interrogated; under duress, they claimed to belong to the ranks of the Granados. In the recording, they identify an alleged operative nicknamed “El Guayaba” and state that they answer to the leadership of Salvador Granados. However, the El Balcón community itself vehemently rejected the video, denouncing it as a staged fabrication intended to distort the truth and criminalize the victims.
To understand the power of the Granados, one must look back to the mid-2000s. The organization was founded by brothers Rubén Granados Vargas—known in the criminal underworld as “El Nene”—and Salvador Granados Vargas, alias “Chava Granados.” Initially, they operated as an armed operational wing linked to the Beltrán Leyva cartel. Over time, and following the fragmentation of major cartels, they established their own independent fiefdom along the coast.
Although Rubén Granados was captured by federal authorities in 2009—and again in 2017—his brother Salvador assumed absolute command of the criminal organization, overseeing extortion, sexual exploitation, and drug trafficking. This total control hasn’t been without bloody conflicts. One of the most violent episodes took place in November 2024, when an armed group calling itself “Grupo Gente Nueva” (New Mob Group) stormed into Tecpan de Galeana in armored vehicles, aiming to oust the Granados clan.
The incursion triggered intense armed clashes with security forces and local police, resulting in a tragic death toll of 19 people, including two municipal officers. Today, as the families from El Balcón demand that the eight farmers be located and returned home alive, the shadow of the Granados family continues to shape the fate of Guerrero. Do you think videos like this might be intended to frame innocent people in order to hinder rescue operations?
Source: Milenio
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