Organized crime has expanded its illicit activities, among them are extortions of lemon producers in Michoacán. But the crisis has not stopped there, but has gone beyond the limits with murders of some of them. Here is a recount of the crimes:
Three years ago, the Citrus Growers Association began the crusade against extortion in Michoacán.
In July 2023, the agricultural and commercial lemon sector in Apatzingán and Buenavista was paralyzed for the first time due to the floor charge.which at that time was one peso per kilo, 50 cents per kilo cut and 50 cents per kilo marketed.
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After a month of the suspension of activities, the authorities deployed an operation and promised to arrest the criminals.
In 2024, “Los Viagras” and their allies doubled the amount of extortion. From 50 cents per kilo cut and 50 cents more to the packer, the “quota” rose to one peso per kilo cut and another peso per kilo marketed, and continued to increase.
deceased lemon trees
Bernardo Bravo Manriquezpresident of the Association of Citrus Growers of the Apatzingán Valley, and of the National Association of Citrus Growers in Mexico, He was murdered on October 20.
Bernardo Bravo had been deprived of his freedom by armed men on Sunday, October 19in an area of influence of the so-called Michoacán New Generation Cartel (CMNG).
He had received death threats due to the strikes carried out by lemon producers in Apatzingán..
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Bernardo Bravo is the fifth lemon producer murdered in just over a yearsince their protests against extortion increased.
José Luis Aguiñaga Escalera was shot dead on September 12, 2024 in Buenavistamunicipality with the largest lemon production in the state of Michoacán.
Ramón Paz Salinas, lemon producer and rural teacher, died on January 14, 2025 when a mine-type improvised explosive device exploded while he was on his way from his garden to teach classes in a town in the municipality of Apatzingán.
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On February 9, the result of the explosion of a ground-based improvised explosive device, Another 43-year-old lemon producer and a 14-year-old teenager died on a property in the town of Santa Anamunicipality of Buenavista.
In September of this same year, A lemon producer from the municipality of Apatzingán was found shot to death on the Parácuaro-Cuatro Caminos highway.
Other attacks
On November 20, 2024, members of the Viagras-Cártel Nueva Generación alliance They set fire to a lemon packaging and collection center in the municipality of ApatzingánMichoacan.
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The criminal act was perpetrated by the block calling itself the Michoacán New Generation Cartel.in a company located on the outskirts of the town of Cenobio Moreno.
Extortioners arrested
Rigoberto López Mendoza, alias “El Pantano”, identified as the person in charge of collecting extortions from lemon trees in the Apatzingán Valley, was arrested on Monday by federal forces.. According to federal Security sources, López Mendoza would be the intellectual author of the murder of Bravo Manríquez.
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