An article in the Mexican newspaper claims that the country’s avocado export chain to the US has been infiltrated by organised crime
Mexican newspaper El Universal has published an article claiming that the country’s avocado exports to the US have been compromised by criminal networks.
Headlined The criminal plot behind the Mexican avocado, it states that intelligence held by the US government indicates that the Comprehensive Avocado Harvesting System (SICOA) was manipulated to introduce fruit into the export circuit that did not meet programme requirements. The case file implicates officials from the Association of Avocado Producers and Packers-Exporters of Mexico (Apeam) and also points to potential corruption within the Local Plant Health Boards of Michoacán.
According to El Universal, this was the underlying reason for last week’s suspension of US personnel activities in Michoacán, rather than a direct threat or the detention of inspectors, as occurred on previous occasions. “In this instance, the US government reportedly withdrew its officials after detecting that product traceability had been compromised. The distinction is significant. Manipulating a certification system necessitates audits, the purging of registry lists, and a comprehensive review of the export programme,” the newspaper said.
El Universal names the two most prominent Apeam officials are Luis Javier de la Rocha, the director general, and Jesús Martínez Castillo. It highlighted that available evidence does not support the claim that producers are part of the cartels, but rather victims of extortion. Allegations focus on the interference of criminal networks in production, transport, packing, certification, and territorial control processes.
The article states that despite being aware of the scale of the problem, Apeam failed to inform president Claudia Sheinbaum about the file regarding SICOA or the US investigation into the Phytosanitary Boards at a meeting with her last week. Instead, it said Apeam “presented a version of events that served their own interests to the presidential administration”.
“The president’s reaction was based on that assessment. Sheinbaum stated that if US inspectors did not return, they could be replaced by Senasica personnel. However, this alternative is technically unfeasible without Washington’s authorisation. Mexican avocados enter the US under an Operational Work Plan agreed upon by USDA-Aphis Senasica, and Apeam. Mexico cannot unilaterally alter that mechanism or decide who certifies shipments entering the US market,” the newspaper stated.
“The proposal is even less viable given that the core issue is a lack of confidence in Mexican controls. If the US is investigating the manipulation of SICOA and potential irregularities within the Phytosanitary Boards, it is unlikely to agree to entrust certification solely to Senasica officials. Such a substitution would require a bilateral modification of the plan, re-accreditation of processes, and the establishment of a USDA-approved oversight framework.”
The article notes that if US authorities confirm that avocado traceability has been compromised by criminal networks, the review could extend to packhouses, exporters, certifying bodies, and other agri-food products.
“For the government of Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla and the administration of Claudia Sheinbaum, simply resuming inspections would address only the immediate emergency. The fundamental challenge will be to prevent the infiltration of organised crime from ultimately compromising nearly the entire export platform of Michoacán, majority of these shipments, and the industry supports roughly 200,000 jobs,” it said.
Responding to the findings, Ken Melban, president of the California Avocado Commission said: “The Trump administration is right to protect American personnel and confront the cartels. The office of the US Trade Representative and the US Department of Agriculture are highly skilled, fully informed and well positioned to act. Consistent with the administration’s America First, anti-cartel and Make America Healthy Again agenda, cartels cannot be allowed to exploit the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement to undercut American growers and destroy domestic production.”
Melban continued: “Our growers have no hope of surviving when the ordinary rules of the market are replaced by the Wild Wild West. This is the moment for a seasonal tariff-rate quota on Mexican avocados and the full reinstatement of rigorous US Department of Agriculture inspections before any Mexican avocados are permitted to enter the US market. Business as usual with Mexico must end.”
