Arr! Drug scallywags be plunderin' poor lime farmers once more in western Mexico after a rowdy rebellion a decade gone!
2023-08-25
Arr, ye scurvy drug gangs be back in western Mexico, lootin' and pillagin' the poor lime farmers, demandin' a hefty ransom fer their protection! Aye, they be chargin' a quarter o' their hard-earned loot, makin' 'em weep like landlubbers!
The lime growers in western Mexico are facing threats and extortion from local drug cartels, causing disruptions in the lime market. The cartels have increased their demands for protection payments, putting a strain on the growers. The government of Michoacan state has launched a criminal investigation into these shake-downs, as the situation not only affects the livelihood of the growers but also the Mexican cuisine. The demands have risen from just over a penny to about 6 cents per 2.2 pounds of limes, which is a significant increase. The government has pledged its support to the growers and promised that there will be no impunity for the cartels. However, the response seems to be belated as threats have been circulating on social media for the past week. Leaflets have been passed around warning growers about the consequences of not paying the protection money. These threats remind people of the dark days of the drug war in 2010-2012 when cartels imposed crop prices, burned down packing houses, and controlled the harvesting schedule. An armed uprising in 2013 and 2014 by angry farmers had largely kicked out the old cartels, but they were replaced by new ones. The government intervened and attacks on growers decreased over the years, allowing for the construction of new packing houses. However, recent months have seen a split in the United Cartels, increasing gang warfare and the desire for more money. This has led to a resurgence of threats and violence in the agricultural region.