Mexican soldiers, National Guard to protect lime growers from cartels
MEXICO CITY, Mexico: Mexico has deployed 660 soldiers and National Guard officers to Michoacan, a state plagued by cartel violence, to protect lime growers facing extortion from criminal groups.
The Defense Department announced that the reinforcements, sent since the start of President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration on October 1, were aimed at safeguarding lime-producing regions from cartels like Los Viagras.
In August, more than half of Michoacan’s lime packing facilities temporarily shut down after growers and distributors reported cartel demands for a cut of their profits. The newly deployed troops are patrolling packing houses, providing escorts for trucks transporting limes, and securing wholesale markets in key lime-growing towns such as Apatzingan, Aguililla, and Buenavista.
Within just over a week, the forces have already confiscated 10 firearms and two grenades, according to the Defense Department. Limes are a fundamental ingredient in Mexican cuisine, and the control exerted by cartels over this agricultural product underscores how organized crime is distorting parts of Mexico’s economy.
While the Michoacan state government initially claimed the shutdowns were due to low market prices, growers have been vocal about cartel interference, which has affected agricultural crops like limes and avocados for years. In 2013, lime growers spearheaded one of the country’s largest vigilante movements after cartels began manipulating crop prices, dictating harvest times, and demanding a cut from sales.
Cartel extortion is not limited to agriculture. In July, the Femsa corporation, which operates the Oxxo convenience store chain, closed all 191 stores and seven gas stations in Nuevo Laredo due to similar gang-related threats. Cartels reportedly forced the company to purchase fuel from specific distributors, demonstrating the growing influence of organized crime on Mexico’s economy.