The Defense Department has deployed a total of 660 military personnel, including soldiers and militarized National Guard officers, to Michoacan, a key lime-producing region in Mexico. This action comes in response to reports from lime growers in the area about extortion demands from cartels. The deployment, which began with the onset of President Claudia Sheinbaum's administration on October 1, aims to bolster security for the agricultural sector in several townships known for lime cultivation.
Recent disturbances have seen over half of the lime packing warehouses in Michoacan's lowlands shut down temporarily in August, following threats from cartels, including Los Viagras, demanding a share of the growers' profits. The military's presence in the region focuses on safeguarding packing houses, ensuring the safe transport of lime shipments, and securing wholesale markets in critical production zones such as Apatzingan, Aguililla, and Buenavista.
Within a week of their deployment, the forces have confiscated 10 firearms and two grenades. Despite the security concerns, the Michoacan state government had previously attributed the August shutdowns to dissatisfaction among producers with the prevailing market prices for limes, a critical ingredient in Mexican cuisine.
Source: AP News