Michoacán
CriticalMexico · Mexican state · capital Morelia
Situation
Tierra Caliente: CJNG vs. Cárteles Unidos. Avocado & lime extortion. Self-defense forces (autodefensas) ongoing. Los Cuinis handle CJNG money-laundering through mining concessions in the region.
Trade exposure
USMCA tracker →- EscalatingAvocado · Cartel violence· USDA APHISUSDA periodically pauses Michoacán avocado inspectionsJun 15, 2024 · ongoing
Recurring pattern since 2022 — at least five short pauses driven by CJNG / Cárteles Unidos pressure on packing-house owners and direct threats against US inspectors in Aranza, Uruapan and Tancítaro. Each pause runs days to weeks before MX security commitments restart shipments. Hass avocado from Jalisco was added to the approved list in 2022 as a hedge but Michoacán still supplies ~80% of US imports.
- EscalatingBerries · SPS / sanitary· FDAFDA recurring safety holds on Mexican strawberries / blackberriesMar 15, 2023 · ongoing
Hepatitis A and Cyclospora outbreaks traced to Michoacán berry packers triggered import alerts; full holds rare but enhanced sampling slows lanes. Compounded by CJNG / Cárteles Unidos extortion of packing-house operators which limits operators' ability to invest in food-safety upgrades.
- EscalatingLime · Cartel violence· MX SAGARPA / industry self-pauseTierra Caliente lime exports periodically haltedAug 09, 2022 · ongoing
Lime growers in Apatzingán / Buenavista pause shipments when CJNG vs. Cárteles Unidos disputes spike — most recently Aug 2022 (10-day stoppage), Apr 2023 (5 days). US prices spike >40% during pauses. Not a formal US restriction but functions as one because there is no alternate winter supply.
- AvocadoCore· Extortion / piso
CJNG controls packing-house piso payments in Tancítaro, Aranza, Uruapan. US inspector threats triggered the recurring 2022-25 USDA pauses.
- AvocadoCore· Labor controlvia Cárteles Unidos
Tancítaro Pueblos Unidos / autodefensas-turned-cartel rebrand; control packing-house staffing and per-truck taxes.
- LimeCore· Extortion / piso
Tierra Caliente lime growers (Apatzingán, Buenavista) pay per-kilo piso; periodic stoppages spike US lime prices >40%.
- LimeCore· Extortion / pisovia Cárteles Unidos
Disputes Tierra Caliente lime piso with CJNG; cause of recurring industry pauses.
- AvocadoSignificant· Extortion / piso
Periphery of Michoacán + Edomex border avocado zones.
- BerriesOpportunistic· Extortion / piso
Strawberry / blackberry packers in Zamora and Los Reyes pressured for piso, intersecting with FDA safety holds.
- LimeOpportunistic· Extortion / pisovia Los Viagras
Tierra Caliente fragment that occasionally taxes lime growers.
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Active armed groups
- Cártel Jalisco Nueva Generaciónmethamphetaminefentanylcocaineextortion
- Cárteles Unidosmethamphetamineextortion
- La Familia Michoacanamethamphetamineextortionkidnapping
- Los Viagrasmethamphetamineextortion
- Los Cuiniscocaine wholesalemoney launderingmining launderingreal estate