As Super Bowl fans devoured tons of guacamole in the United States, soldiers in the world’s biggest avocado-producing region in Mexico were deactivating makeshift landmines left by warring drug traffickers.
At the same time, officials scrambled to end a suspension of Mexican avocado exports to the United States prompted by threats against a US inspector in the western state of Michoacan.
The Super Bowl party was soon over and on February 18 Washington announced that Mexican shipments of the fruit beloved for its creamy green flesh would resume after a week-long halt.
But in Michoacan the battle continues for control of the region’s agricultural riches, which organized crime groups fight for a slice of through robbery, kidnapping and extortion. In the town of Aguililla, birthplace of Nemesio “El Mencho” Oseguera, head of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, bullet-pocked houses sit next to abandoned crops and hidden explosive devices.
Oseguera, 55, is one of the United States’ most-wanted fugitives with a $10 million bounty on his head.
In February alone, when consumption of guacamole soars during the National Football League championship, 140,000 tons of avocado are expected to have been shipped from Mexico to the United States.
The introduction of new unspecified measures to ensure the safety of US inspectors allowed exports to resume from Michoacan, the only Mexican state with approval to ship avocados to the US market. In early February, before the incident with the inspector, the Mexican army entered Aguililla without the use of force.
Since then, the military has patrolled several towns in Michoacan that bear the scars left by traffickers: bullet holes, barricades and graffiti with the acronym “CJNG” on walls.
Source: eNCA
In other news – #Gomora: Gladys dumps Melusi
Gomora gave fans another dose of drama this week. Yesterday viewers saw Thati preparing to get married while Gladys called it quits with Melusi.
For the longest time, Melusi has been cheating on Gladys with his baby mama Thati and this is not Glady’s first attempt to end their marriage. Learn more
