The kind of mass threats and extortion of lime growers in the west of Mexico - that sparked a civilian vigilante uprising some ten years ago - have returned. One lime grower said yesterday that the local drug cartel had increased the price of protection payments five-fold in the space of a few weeks.
The government of Michoacan state has launched a criminal investigation into these shake-downs. The situation threatens a mainstay of Mexican cuisine, and recalls the darkest days of the country’s 2006-2012 drug war.
The grower said that in the last week to 10 days, the cartel has increased its demands from just over a penny per kilogram of limes to about 6 cents. That could amount to a quarter of the prices farmers are paid.
On Tuesday, Carlos Torres, the Michoacan state interior secretary, said the government was launching a formal criminal investigation: “We are going to continue supporting growers so they can carry out their activities as normal. There will be no impunity."
Source: taiwannews.com.tw