Omar García Harfuch promises to reinforce security in Michoacán

After the murder of Bernardo Bravo, a lemon leader in Michoacán, Omar García Harfuch committed to strengthening security actions to protect the productive sector of said state.

Mexico City, October 28 (However).- The head of the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC), Omar García Harfuchassured this Tuesday that the murder of Bernardo Bravo, lemon leader in the state of Michoacan, “will not go unpunished”so the Security Cabinet of the Government of Mexico will reinforce its operations to protect the productive sector of said entity.

After the homicide that occurred on October 19, the Secretary indicated in his X account that, upon instruction from the President of Mexico, Claudia Sheinbaumas well as the head of the Secretary of National Defense (Sedena), the General Ricardo Trevillamet with lemon producersthe Governor of Michoacan, Alfredo Ramírez Bedollaand local authorities of the municipality of Apatzinganto listen to their concerns and strengthen joint actions against the crimes of extortion and collection of fees.

In this sense, García Harfuch committed to strengthening the actions of the Security Cabinet of the Government of Mexico, the Attorney General’s Office of Michoacán and the Ministry of Public Security of the State of Michoacán.

“The joint operations of the Security Cabinet of the Government of Mexico, the Attorney General’s Office of Michoacán will be reinforced and the Ministry of Public Security of the State of Michoacánas well as investigative and intelligence actions to protect the productive sector and arrest those who threaten the peace of Michoacán. The murder of Bernardo Bravo will not go unpunished,” he explained during the meeting.

By instructions of the President @Claudiasheinwith the General Secretary Ricardo Trevilla holder of @Defensamx1 we met with lemon producers, the governor @ARBedolla and other local authorities, in Apatzingán, Michoacán, to listen to their concerns and strengthen… pic.twitter.com/8XXZZ2ivTt

— Omar H Garcia Harfuch (@OHarfuch) October 28, 2025

Bernardo Bravo Márquez served as president of the Association of Citrus Growers of the Apatzingán Valley, which is why he was considered a defender of the countryside and the producers of the region. However, on October 19, his body was found lifeless 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 SSPC 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.

The President of Mexico herself, Claudia Sheinbaum, was questioned about the murder of Bernardo Bravo Márquez in her morning conference on October 21. “It’s very sad,” said the federal president.

“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,” he said.

Added to this case was the murder of a citrus businessman identified as Javier Vargas Arias, who was attacked by a group of armed men aboard a truck, on October 23, in the municipality of Álamo Temapache, in the north of the state of Veracruz. However, the attackers fled the area after leaving the man injured.

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.