Bernardo Bravo Manríquez was murdered after speaking out against extortion demands by criminal groups
The murder of a leading figure in Mexico’s lime industry after speaking out against organised crime has caused consternation amongst lime producers in the state of Michoacan.
The Michoacan State Attorney General’s office confirmed on Monday that the body of Bernardo Bravo Manríquez, president of the Apatzingán Valley Citrus Growers Association and of the National Citrus Growers Association in Mexico, was found in his car on the road leading to the Los Tepetates community, an area where the Michoacán New Generation Cartel (CMNG) is known to operate.
According to local reports, the authorities have arrested the alleged perpetrator, identified as Rigoberto N, known by the alias El Pantano, who is believed to be linked to extortion activities in the region.
In recent interviews with Mexico’s Radio Formula, Bravo denounced “organised crime’s permanent commercial hijacking of any commercial activity “. He said criminals’ demands had become out of reach for producers who were left with no other choice but to negotiate with them.
He was reportedly murdered just one day after calling a meeting with producers to curb the presence of so-called “coyotes”, middlemen who buy produce at low prices and resell it at much higher prices.
In a video posted hours before his murder, Bravo called for unity amongst the region’s lime producers. He stated: “Next Monday, we’re inviting all lemon producers… We won’t allow access to any broker or coyote who is setting prices for fruit that isn’t theirs”.
In August, more than half of lime packhouses in the lowlands of Michoacan closed temporarily after growers and distributors said they had received demands from the Los Viagras and other cartels for a cut of their income.
