Sedena Deploys 860 Elements In Michoacan To Guarantee Lemon Production

 "Char" for Borderland Beat 

This information was posted by LA JORNADA 

WRITTEN BY: CESAR ARRELLANO GARCIA 

NOVEMBER 26, 2024

Apatzingán, Mich. The Secretariat of National Defense (Sedena) deployed 860 elements in six municipalities of Michoacán, including Apatzingán, Buenavista, Parácuaro, Múgica, Tepalcatepec and Aguililla, to guarantee the production and commercialization of lemons, threatened by extortion by members of organized crime, mainly by the Viagras cartel.

La Jornada visited the “Rancho Seco” orchard, the “La Luna” packing plant and El Tianguis Limonero, located between the town of Antunez and the municipalities of Apatzingan and Paracuaro, which were targets of extortion by organized crime. Producers were asked for up to 2 pesos for each kilo of packaged lemons.

However, President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo committed to actions in favor of security in Michoacan municipalities where lemon production is the main economic activity.

Therefore, as of October 1, the 100-day plan of the Federal Administration was launched, with the aim of guaranteeing that the citrus production and commercialization chain develops in an environment of security and public peace.

According to the results of the citrus plan, from October 1 to November 25, 63 alleged members of organized crime have been arrested, 61 firearms, 383 magazines, 11,322 cartridges, 12 grenades, 28 vehicles were seized and 132 kilo 670 grams of marijuana and 980 grams of methamphetamine were seized.

“With the start of the current administration, strategies were implemented mainly related to the attention to the different problems in the country, mainly violence and insecurity. In Michoacán we are working with all the authorities: federal, state, armed forces, police, state and municipal public security. There are 64,111 hectares of lemons grown in the state. The state has the first place in lemon production. We have a register of 3,411 producers. There are 26 municipalities in the state that are dedicated to lemon production, but the concentration is in the six aforementioned municipalities of this hot land area,” said Brigadier General Eugenio Leonardo Lopez Arellanes, State Coordinator of the National Guard in Michoacan.

He indicated that 420 elements of the Armed Forces, National Guard participate, 360 elements of the Army, “we have 50 elements of the Secretary of Public Security of the State, Civil Guard is known, as well as 30 elements of Municipal Public Security. We do it in different routes established in the six municipalities, patrolling, visiting plants and orchards.

Likewise, military protection posts have been set up and personnel carry out security patrols along the lemon routes, visit packing plants and provide escorts for vehicles transporting lemons from the production fields to the storage places and marketing points, as well as for the transportation of lemons from the production fields to the storage places.

But not only that, during the operation the elements have managed to combat extortion, kidnappings, homicides and other crimes related to the production and commercialization of this product.

Hours earlier, the Sedena killed two alleged criminals and injured another, seized a vehicle and seized six weapons, the confrontation originated some 30 kilometers from the site.

Gerardo Zavala González, president of the Parácuaro Lemon Growers Association, said that among the main problems is that drivers transporting lemons to different states of the country are sometimes robbed. “One packer was robbed on the way from Morelia to Querétaro, that is what they face outside the municipality, being stopped and robbed. Another packer told me that he was also robbed in Maravatío. We are calmer with the presence of the National Guard, there is more security”.

SOURCE: LA JORNADA 

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CJNG Announces Its Arrival In Buenavista And Apatzingán, And Confirms Alliance With Three Michoacán Cartels: “Very Good Things Are Coming”. Official Alliance CJNG-Los Viagras-Los Blancos De Troya-Los De La Virgen

 "Char" for Borderland Beat 

This article was translated and reposted from NOVENTAGRADOS 

Apatzingán, Mich., September 3, 2024 - The Jalisco Cartel - New Generation (CJNG) announced with banners in the municipalities of Apatzingán and Buenavista, its arrival in those municipalities hand in hand with three local criminal groups, thus confirming the alliance of cartels seeking control of the state.

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El Abuelo Farias And Omar Mora "La Nalgona" Key Criminal Figures In Tepalcatepec And La Ruana According To Dozens Of Narco-Banners: Michoacán

 "Char" and "Enojon" for Borderland Beat 

July 12, 2024

Image by SocalJ

Juan Jose Farias Alvarez "El Abuelo Farias" was once again in the eye of the storm named alongside Omar Mora "El Nalgon", in dozens of narco-banners. The infamous so-called self-defense leader El Abuelo Farias who in reality is a local Michoacán cartel leader is at an all-out war with his compadre and CJNG cofounder Nemesio Ruben Oseguera-Cervantes "Mencho." 

The above narco-banners were allegedly hung Friday, July 12, 2024, in dozens of strategic points. Noventa Grados and other news sites indicate that the banners were placed in the municipalities of Uruapan, La Huacana, Nueva Italia, Paracho, Apatzingán, and Buenavista. Moreover, surprisingly the banners were not signed by rival groups which is interesting because CJNG Cartel has made their war very public against El Abuelo Farias from the very beginning. 

The banners not being signed by CJNG could mean that they probably did not want the heat of military authorities, or could be a sign that there is tension growing between Cartel De Tepalcatepec and Los Viagras. 

BANNER TRANSLATION

" Statement 

Omar Mora “La Nalgona” and Juan José Farías “El Abuelo” are the owners of the more than 600 kilos of crystal meth seized in the La Rauna. The attorney general of the state in the municipality of Buenavista, Michoacán, sources of the municipality informed that the drug load was found in a property used as a tire and repair shop owned by “La Nalgona” and Juan José Farías Álvarez “El Abuelo” this two mentioned are widely recognized to be part of a criminal group that operates in the region of Tepalcatepec and La Ruana. These criminals have committed crimes for years. El Abuelo Farías was captured by military forces in an impressive operation on May 18, 2018, but was liberated because of his connections. Lastly, the sources informed us that in La Ruana Antonio Naranjo is a member of the 

"TEPALCATEPEC CARTEL"  

“El Abuelo Farías” was captured on September 16, 2023, with a large arsenal of weapons trying to make himself look like a Self-Defense leader, and finally he was captured a second time by the FGR (Attorney General Office) in July 3, 2024, with another large arsenal of weapons along with 28 persons for the theft of horses, and was also captured on March 12, 2014, in the municipality of ALVARO OBREGON. 

SOURCES: NOVENTA GRADOS,  Borderland Beat, Borderland Beat, Borderland Beat 

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USDA Pauses Avocado, Mango Inspections In Mexican State Due To Security Concerns

 "CHAR" for Borderland Beat 

The agency said the pause will not impact production in transit to the U.S.

WRITTEN BY: KELLY McCarthy

JUNE 18, 2024

Avocados are seen growing on trees in an orchard, Sept. 21, 2023, in the Michoacan State

Alfredo Estrella/AFP via Getty Images, FILE

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has temporarily paused any new exports of mangoes and avocados out of Michoacán, Mexico after an incident that reportedly sparked security concerns for its safety inspectors on the ground.

A spokesman for the agency said Monday that the inspection program will remain paused until it can ensure its Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service inspectors working in Mexico are safe.

While the USDA did not elaborate on the nature of the specific security threats, Reuters first reported the suspension stemmed from a protest in support of local police in the municipality of Paracho.
"The programs will remain paused until the security situation is reviewed and protocols and safeguards are in place for APHIS personnel," the USDA spokesman added.

The USDA first alerted the Avocado Exporting Producers and Packers of Mexico of its decision to suspend new exports out of the western Mexican state earlier this month.

Any produce that has already been inspected and is in transit will not be blocked or impacted by the suspension, the agency said.
This marks the second time in just over two years that inspections have been suspended following an incident in February 2022 that dealt with USDA employee safety, which was resolved within a week of the ban and had no severe impact on the avocado supply in the U.S.

The USDA has inspectors working in Mexico to ensure the products meet U.S. standards, without whose signoff the avocados and mangos cannot be sent north.

Michoacán and Jalisco are the only two Mexican states allowed to export avocados to the U.S., an industry worth billions of dollars each year.
Michoacán is known as one of Mexico's most dangerous states, which has been dominated by organized crime for decades. The avocado industry has been no exception, with extortion rampant in the lucrative produce industry.

If the current issue is not resolved as swiftly as the 2022 incident, and the supply chain is disrupted for a long period, there could be an impact on U.S. supply.

SOURCE: ABC NEWS

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Los Viagras Use Drone Bombs Against CJNG in La Ruana, Michoacán

By "El Huaso" and "Enojon" for Borderland Beat

The town of Felipe Carrillo Puerto, also known as "La Ruana" in Michoacán state has been a hotspot of drone deployed explosive attack activity over the last couple days. At least four explosives have been dropped from drones in La Ruana, while security forces have scrambled to detain those responsible and affirm their control.

This article summarizes these events.

The First Drone Bombing in La Ruana - September 10

On Sunday, September 10, Guadalupe Mora, the brother of recently murdered autodefensa leader Hipolita Mora, was speaking with community members in the town center of La Ruana around noon when a drone-deployed IED exploded nearby. 

Video shows explosion near central plaza of La Ruana. Via David Ordaz Twitter

According to Guadalupe Mora in an interview with newspaper Proceso, Mora was approached by locals at his home who wanted his support against Los Viagras, a criminal group in the region behind widespread extortion and violence. According to El Universal, some of these men were Francisco Valencia Díaz, alias “El Soquete”; Jesús García Chávez, alias “El Chuchín”, and Antonio Naranjo, who are all locals, but have been "expelled" from the municipality for working for the CJNG. El Universal portrays the event as a ruse organized by the CJNG to turn the locals against Los Viagras.

These men also went to the local church to ring the bells, against the parish priest's wishes, in order to call the town to the central plaza to mobilize against Los Viagras. Ringing the bells of a local church to call the armed town together is a tactic used by autodefensas in Michoacán. This significance of this act goes back hundreds of years in Mexico. In fact, the "Grito", Mexico's shout of independence in 1810, which signaled the start of the Mexican Revolution, was accompanied by Padre Hidalgo ringing the bells of the church. In doing so, the CJNG compare their cause against Los Viagras as a revolutionary act.

Mora and his bodyguards spoke to a small gathering of people around noon under Police watch. He clarified that no one was carrying weapons, contradicting reporting by El Universal, who wrote that the men who rang the church bells were carrying rifles.

The IED exploded nearby while he was speaking, but there were were no injuries or deaths.

That evening, three armed men, allegedly members of Los Viagras, were arrested nearby. Infobae identified them as José Luis “N”, alias “El Chango”; Luis Alberto “N”, alias “El Chivo”; and Jesús “N”, alias “El Chamán”, and reported that they work as gunmen for Heladio Cisneros Meneras alias "La Sirena".

Crime journalist Oscar Balderas wrote that La Sirena was behind the ambush killing of Hipolita Mora in late June 2023.

The Second Drone Bombing in La Ruana - September 12

Last night around 10 p.m., three explosives were dropped from commercial drones around La Ruana, with one exploding in a market, a main avenue, and the central plaza. There were no injuries or deaths.

Locals show the remains of an explosive. Via Grupo Marmor Multimedios Twitter

The Seizure in La Ruana - September 12

Earlier that day, security forces captured an arsenal, including equipment related to drone dropped IEDs.

Photos show six improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and a remote control for a drone, along with dozens of rifle rounds and magazines. The IEDs, which appear to be modeled after WW2-era MK2 grenades, have small metal balls affixed to them, which would act as deadly shrapnel upon explosion. One has fins, which would act to stabilize it when dropped, improving accuracy.

The remote control appears to be a RotorLogic DJI Mavic 2 Pro/Zoom Remote Controller, which sells new for just under $500 USD in the United States. The corresponding drone costed $2,200 USD when it was still in production.

This exact remote and the corresponding drone combination can be purchased used in Mexico through Mercado Libre, an online marketplace, for $17,000 pesos ($985 USD).

The seizure of weapons was reported on the Michoacán state Public Security Secretariat Twitter account this afternoon.

Drone Attack in El Caracol - August 10 

 

Since May 1st, similar drone attacks have been carried out against the El Caracol community of Heliodoro Castillo, Guerrero by members of La Familia Michoacána in an attempt to enter the region that the criminal organization considers territory of their rival, Los Tlacos, while targeting locals they deem to be supporters of the group. 

 

During an interview with Imagen Noticias, an unidentified displaced resident of El Caracol stated that claims circulated through social media of an alleged alliance between La Familia Michoacana, Don Misael Figueroa Tapia, founder of the Adrián Castrejón Apaxtlense Movement or 'MAAC,' and Juan Carlos Flores Ascencio 'La Beba,' leader of the Teloloapan Cartel, who intend to enter the region to combat the presence of Los Tlacos.While details are scarce, news reports indicate one individual was killed and 250 people have been displaced as a result of the bombings.

  

Context of drone deployed IED's in Michoacán 

 

The violence perpetrated by Los Viagras towards the regional Autodefensas continues after the murder of Hipólito Mora Chávez, former founder of the La Ruana community self-defense group, on June 29th by members operating for Rogelio Moreno Reyes 'El Conejo' or 'El Conejillo,' leader of gunmen for Nicolás Sierra Santana  'El Gordo Viagra,' in Buenavista, Michoacan. Although, the organization has now begun to target Guadalupe Mora Chávez, brother of Hipólito, and Antonio Torres Naranjo, the new face of the Autodefensa movement in La Ruana, who Los Viagras see as enemies for their efforts against the criminal organization. 

Members of the La Ruana stated the illicit interference of Los Viagras in local commercial industries such as agricultural had motivated them to organize against the criminal organization, while they have not taken up arms as of yet, they were prepared to do so, a member stated "Until now are not armed, but there are weapons Hipólito has left me". The attacks can be perceived as Los Viagra's attempts to hinder or eliminate a potentially damaging movement similar to the 2013 Autodefensa movement against Los Caballeros Templarios.

 

National Drone Initiative 

On September 12th, during the morning press conference in the National Palace Journalist Yusbel Carolina Rada Díaz from the news publication Código Libre presented Luisa María Alcalde Luján, the Secretary of the Interior, a question regarding the increased drone attacks as seen recently in La Ruana and other points of Michoacan, asking what is the government's response to eliminate the use of drones by criminal organizations.

 

Luján stated an initiative had been formed in coordination with the Secretariat of the Navy, the Secretariat of National Defense, the Secretariat of Security and Civilian Protection and unidentified legislators to regulate it's use to prevent further attacks of this kind, stating she awaits its discussion in congress as they "need to address these new realities."  

According to the August 22nd Safety Report, security personnel had seized, destroyed and detonated 605 explosives that were intended to be dropped as payloads from drones between December, 2018 and August 21st, 2023. 

Sources: Proceso 9/10/23 @SSeguridad_Mich Twitter, Mercado Libre Listing, Amazon Remote Listing, Mavic 2 Listing, MVS Noticias 7/5/23, August 22nd Safety Report, NMás, Morning Press Conference [Timestamp: 50:25], David Ordaz Twitter 9/10/23, Aristegui Noticias 9/13/23, Infobae 9/11/23, El Universal 9/10/23, El Pais 8/29/23, El Sol de Morelia 9/12/23, Excélsior TV 5/17/23, Animal Politico 5/16/2023, Animal Politico 8/16/23

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