Mexico is continuing its efforts to safeguard avocado production in Michoacán. On Monday, the Prosecutor’s Office arrested Cristian Maximiliano “N”—alias “X1″—who is linked to a cell of the Knights Templar cartel, along with 11 other individuals accused of extorting avocado producers and traders in the state. The 12 detainees—eight men and four women—are accused by the Prosecutor’s Office of collecting extortion payments, both in cash and in kind, throughout the region.
The reach of this extortion and protection racket extends to transporters and packers in the avocado, lime, livestock, and meat sectors, as well as to small local shops, according to a statement made this morning by the Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection, Omar García Harfuch.
The Secretary links “X1” to the Knights Templar, a criminal organization that has terrorized the state for years through drug trafficking, the 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 hard work of producers, merchants, and transporters will be investigated, arrested, and brought to justice,” Harfuch said.
The arrests, carried out during 11 simultaneous raids, come amidst pressure from north of the border that triggered a sudden crisis regarding avocado exports from Michoacán.
Last Wednesday, the United States issued a security alert that forced its Department of Agriculture inspectors to abandon their posts at avocado packing facilities in Michoacán. Under export agreements, Mexico cannot ship avocados to its neighbor unless the product has been approved by U.S. inspectors. Washington justified the measure by noting that the area had become increasingly dangerous in recent days. Harfuch and President Claudia Sheinbaum responded quickly by deploying 1,500 troops to the region, which produces 86% of Mexico’s avocados.
Two days later, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico reversed its decision and resumed oversight and shipments of the fruit after verifying the security measures implemented by the Mexican government. Michoacán poses one of the major challenges to the administration’s security strategy; ten months ago, within the span of just a few days, organized crime groups assassinated agricultural leader and farmer Bernardo Bravo, followed by the mayor of Uruapan, Carlos Manzo. Both men had spoken out against the pressure and extortion—specifically “protection” rackets—imposed by criminal syndicates on the agricultural sector.
