A criminal cell linked to the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) is extorting avocado, lemon, and orange producers in Michoacán [1].
This systematic extortion scheme targets the agricultural heart of Mexico, draining billions from the local economy and inflating costs within the global fruit supply chain.
Authorities identified the operatives as Jorge Armando “N,” known as El Licenciado, and Gerardo “N,” known as El Congo [1]. The group operates primarily around the city of Uruapan, where they implement a system of "piso" — protection payments demanded from farmers and distributors [1, 2].
The financial scale of the operation is significant. The criminal cell generates up to 18 billion Mexican pesos annually through these activities [2]. In some instances, cartels charge as little as two pesos per kilogram of avocado [3].
These payments create a direct financial burden on the industry. Reports indicate the extortion reduces the avocado value chain by between three% and five% [4]. The funds are used to finance the broader operations of the criminal organization.
Beyond the financial impact, the cell is tied to violent political instability in the region. Investigators linked the group to the 2022 assassination of Carlos Manzo Rodríguez, who served as the mayor of Uruapan [1, 2].
The extortion of citrus and avocado crops has become one of the most profitable ventures for organized crime in the region due to the high demand for these exports in the U.S. and other international markets [3].
“The criminal cell generates up to 18 billion Mexican pesos annually through these activities.”
The infiltration of the agricultural supply chain by the CJNG demonstrates a shift toward 'predatory diversification,' where cartels move beyond drug trafficking to tax legal commerce. By taxing high-demand exports like avocados, criminal organizations create a stable, low-risk revenue stream that is harder for international authorities to disrupt than narcotics shipments. This systemic extortion effectively imposes a private tax on Mexican farmers, reducing their competitiveness and increasing the risk of price volatility for international consumers.
