Michoacán Lime Grower Leader Bernardo Bravo Found Dead

Bernardo Bravo, president of the Apatzingan Valley Citrus Producers Association, was found murdered in his vehicle in the Mexican state of Michoacán today, authorities reported.

The Michoacán state prosecutor’s office announced Bravo’s death on X, stating his body was discovered on a roadway in the region. Bravo had recently and publicly denounced the escalating extortion demands imposed on lime producers by organized crime groups. In interviews with Radio Formula in late September and earlier this month, he described the situation as “organized crime’s permanent commercial hijacking of any commercial activity,” adding that producers were often left with no option but to negotiate with criminals.

Bravo acknowledged some progress by the federal government in combating organized crime in Michoacán, but stressed the need for greater efforts to end impunity. Last year, hundreds of troops were deployed to the area to protect lime growers facing similar threats, and in August, over half of the region’s lime packing warehouses temporarily closed due to cartel demands for a percentage of income from groups like Los Viagras. The control of agricultural revenue streams, like limes and Mexico’s drug cartels, has been a long-standing issue, even sparking the formation of a large vigilante movement among lime growers in 2013.

Several criminal organizations operating in Michoacán, including United Cartels, the New Michoacan Family, and the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, have been designated as foreign terrorist organizations by the U.S. government. This incident underscores the ongoing challenges to security and economic stability in the region, potentially impacting the supply and price of limes both domestically and internationally. Reuters reported on similar closures just months ago.

Authorities have stated they are investigating the circumstances surrounding Bravo’s death and pursuing those responsible.