Two armed men attempted to rob a suspected avocado businessman in the municipality of Uruapan, Michoacán, but were repelled by a bodyguard. The incident occurred on the Viaduct to Jicalán, near the Mediterránea condominiums, when the assailants approached a white SUV on a motorcycle and threatened its occupants.
When the vehicle door opened, one of the bodyguards responded with gunfire, causing the assailants to flee on foot. The motorcycle driver lost his balance and also escaped down the avenue.
One of the assailants, a 29-year-old man, collapsed a few meters after attempting to flee, having sustained at least seven gunshot wounds to the chest and limbs. He was treated by paramedics from Civil Protection and transported to a regional hospital. Witnesses stated that while he was on the ground, he was beaten by one of the bodyguards.
Following the confrontation, security forces in Uruapan launched an operation to secure the area and identify the remaining perpetrators. The Michoacán State Attorney General’s Office opened an investigation to clarify the events.
The National Alliance of Small Businesses (ANPEC) has warned that extortion of avocado producers impacts between 3 and 5 percent of the value chain, directly affecting exports of the so-called “green gold.”
Mexico sends approximately 120,000 tons of Hass avocados to the United States each year. In 2025, exports reached $4 billion, solidifying the sector as one of the most important in the national economy. This success has made it a prime target for criminal organizations seeking to control production and distribution.
Michoacán avocados are considered “green gold” due to their high value in the international market. Michoacán produces more than 80% of Mexican avocados, and Mexico is responsible for approximately one-third of global production. However, this boom has been accompanied by violence and extortion.
According to research by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, the industry’s growth has occurred in parallel with an increase in homicides and the expansion of organized crime in the region. Cartels have imposed extortion payments ranging from a few pesos per kilo to 40% of producers’ income, creating a climate of constant insecurity.
Source: excelsior
