Mexico continues efforts to shield avocado production in Michoacán. The Prosecutor’s Office arrested Cristian Maximiliano ‘N’, alias X1, linked to a cell of Los Caballeros Templarios, and 11 other people accused of extorting avocado producers and merchants in the State this Monday. The 12 detainees —eight men and four women— are accused by the Prosecutor’s Office of collecting fees in cash and in kind in the region.
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The tentacles of this extortion and protection racket network also reach transporters and packers in the avocado, lemon, livestock, and meat sectors, as well as convenience stores, according to this morning’s report by the Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, Omar García Harfuch.
The secretary links X1 to Los Caballeros Templarios, a mafia that for years has sown terror in the State with drug trafficking, extortion of producers and merchants, mineral theft, and even organ trafficking. “Those who threaten families and seek to enrich themselves at the expense of the work of producers, merchants, and transporters will be investigated, arrested, and brought to justice,” said Harfuch.
The arrests, made during 11 simultaneous raids, come amid pressure exerted from the northern border, which caused a quick crisis in Michoacán avocado exports.
Last Wednesday, the United States issued a security alert that forced its inspectors from the Department of Agriculture to leave their posts at avocado packing plants in Michoacán. As part of export agreements, Mexico cannot send avocados to the neighboring country if the product has not been approved by U.S. inspectors. Washington justified the measure by stating that the area had become more dangerous in recent days.
Harfuch and President Claudia Sheinbaum responded quickly by sending 1,500 soldiers to the region, which produces 86% of Mexican avocados. Two days later, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico reversed the decision and resumed supervision and shipment of the fruit after “verifying the surveillance conditions” implemented by the Mexican Government. Michoacán is one of the main challenges to the Administration’s security strategy after, 10 months ago and within just a few days, organized crime first murdered the agricultural leader Bernardo Bravo and then the mayor of Uruapan, Carlos Manzo. Both had denounced the pressure and protection rackets imposed by mafias on the countryside.
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