President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed that security operations will continue in Michoacán to protect avocado producers and inspectors following a series of threats.
The deployment is critical because the avocado industry is a primary export for Mexico. Threats against inspectors could disrupt the supply chain and jeopardize the legal export of the fruit to the U.S.
Sheinbaum addressed the situation during a press conference on Aug. 6, 2026 [1]. The president said that the government is taking these measures to ensure that the work of producers, packers, and inspectors can proceed without interference.
Regarding the specific risks to personnel, Sheinbaum said, "Some inspectors had received threats." These threats targeted officials responsible for certifying the fruit for export, which could have stalled shipments if the inspectors felt unsafe performing their duties.
To mitigate these risks, the Mexican government has reinforced security operations within the state of Michoacán. The president said that the goal is to protect every link in the production chain.
"The work of the entire avocado production chain is guaranteed," Sheinbaum said.
Beyond domestic security, the operation involves coordination with international partners. The president confirmed that Mexico is maintaining a dialogue with the U.S. to manage the security of the inspectors and the stability of the trade route.
"We confirm the dialogue with the United States and the reinforcement of security operations in Michoacán," Sheinbaum said.
The ongoing presence of security forces aims to prevent criminal groups from leveraging threats to control the avocado trade or intimidate foreign officials overseeing the quality and safety of the exports.
“"Some inspectors had received threats."”
The continued security presence in Michoacán highlights the vulnerability of Mexico's high-value agricultural exports to organized crime. Because the US is the primary market for Mexican avocados, any threat to the certification process by inspectors directly threatens a major economic pillar. The coordination between Mexico and the US suggests that maintaining the flow of trade is a shared priority that outweighs the logistical challenges of long-term security deployments in the region.
