A farmer and distributor of lemons was shot dead yesterday by two motorcycle-borne assailants in the west-central state of Michoacan.
The victim was driving through the rural township of Buenavista when he was shot several times. Authorities believe the hitmen are members of Los Viagras, the armed wing of the Familia Michoacana (Spanish abbr: FM) cartel.
The victim’s relatives stated that he was unable to pay the exorbitant “fines” previously demanded of him by members of Los Viagras.
Extortion is rampant throughout Michoacan, an agricultural powerhouse that is a hub of the vital avocado industry.
Los Viagras, the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (Spanish abbr: CJNG) and other criminal gangs vie in for the right to extort avocado producers and transporters, with much of the fighting is centered in Buenavista, Uruapan and the municipalities of Apatzingan and Gabriel Zamora.
The cartels fight each other, the security forces and armed civilian self-defense groups.
Uruapan is among the top 10 most dangerous cities in Mexico.
Conventional crime also is rampant throughout Michoacan.
The US State Department repeatedly has warned American citizens against travel to Michoacan.
This service strongly concurs with that advice.
Multinational personnel, both Mexican and foreign, required to travel to Michoacan should do so with extreme caution, with consideration given to utilizing protective personnel. Travel should be undertaken only during hours of daylight and with fresh intelligence on areas to be visited.
