Citrus businessman is shot to death in Veracruz

Javier Vargas Arias, a citrus businessman, was shot to death in Veracruz. His case is added to the murder in Michoacán of Bernardo Bravo Márquez, a lemon leader, whose attack occurred only on Monday.

Mexico City, October 23 (However).- A citrus businessmanidentified as Javier Vargas Ariaswas shot to death during the early hours of this Thursday in the municipality of Álamo Temapache, north of the state of Veracruz.

According to local media, Javier Vargas Arias He was attacked by a group of armed men aboard a truck, while he was walking through the streets of the ejido New Garden. However, the attackers fled from said area after leaving the businessman injured.

Given the above, Vargas Arias was transferred to the Álamo Temapache General Hospital, but the emergency team could not save his life, so his death was reported minutes after entering the medical unit of the state of Veracruz.

The area where the orange producer was attacked was cordoned off by elements of the Public Security Secretariat of said entity, in order to protect the site until the arrival of the State Attorney General’s Office. Subsequently, personnel from the Ministerial Police and specialized experts collected the corresponding evidence to begin an investigation folder into the case.

I The citrus businessman, Javier Vargas Arias, is murdered while carrying out his work in #Veracruz.

Vargas Arias, 43 years old, was attacked by an armed commando in the municipality of Álamo, a leading orange production area. The businessman was taken to the hospital… pic.twitter.com/fDKMeI7u1y

— Josue Aguilar (@josuealeexis) October 23, 2025

So far, no details have been released about the motive for the crime or possible perpetrators. The State Prosecutor’s Office has initiated an investigation file to clarify the situation.

This fact was added to the murder in Michoacán of the lemon leader Bernardo Bravo Márquez, who also served as president of the Association of Citrus Growers of the Apatzingán Valley, for which he was considered a defender of the countryside and the producers of the region.

According to the State Attorney General’s Office (FGE), the body of the lemon leader was located last Monday inside his vehicle, on the road that leads to the community of Los Tepetates, in the municipality of Apatzingán.

After what happened, the head of the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC), Omar García Harfuch, announced the arrest of Rigoberto “N”, alias “El Pantano”, who was identified as one of those responsible for extorting lemon producers in Apatzingán.

A day later, García Harfuch announced the arrest of another person who would also be involved in the murder of the lemon leader.

“A few moments ago, the authorities of the state of Michoacán, in coordination with the Security Cabinet, made another arrest in this unfortunate homicide and the operations are going to continue. That is a commitment where the operations of the Security Cabinet together with the authorities of Michoacán are going to increase until all those responsible for this homicide and many others in this region are arrested,” said the official in his appearance before senators.

The President of Mexico herself, Claudia Sheinbaum, was questioned about the murder of Bernardo Bravo Márquez. “It is very sad,” said the federal president in her morning conference last Tuesday.

“It is very sad and regrettable for this leader of lemon production and marketing (…). There must be justice in this case and the entire Security Cabinet is supporting the Prosecutor’s Office and the Government of Michoacán to be able to reach those responsible.”