The murder of lemon producer and leader Bernardo Bravo, in Apatzingan, Michoacan, exposed the criminal network that has threatened citrus and avocado growers in the Tierra Caliente region for more than a decade, which is disputed by five cartels.

Bravo was murdered like his father, “Don Berna,” who was kidnapped, tortured, and killed almost a decade ago after refusing to pay fees imposed by criminal cells demanding millions in sums.

Today, the Tepalcatepec, Jalisco Nueva Generacion (CJNG), Carteles Unidos, Los Templarios, and Los Viagras cartels are fighting for control.

In 2013, Los Templarios controlled avocado and lemon growers by charging fees. In the case of lemons, they paid at least 2 pesos per kilo of cut fruit. Now they charge up to 4 pesos.

Even with the deployment of federal and state authorities, 12 years later, five organized crime groups are fighting for control of the production, trade, and extortion of lemons and avocados.

Producers say that the submission mechanism is now twofold, since they pay a fee to the large cartel, mainly Los Viagras, and another to local groups, such as Los Templarios, who demand a second payment “for rural floor rights.”

“They charge us for harvesting the lemons, for selling them, and even for loading them onto trucks,” one producer told Grupo Reforma.

“If you don’t pay, they disappear you.”

The same thing happens with avocados, where the extortion is directed at the producer, the packer, and the transporter, according to the complaints.

According to ministerial sources, the siege now falls on Los Viagras and their operational arm, Los Troy Targets.

The Viagras were born as a split from Los Templarios in 2013, and are led by the Sierra Santana brothers: Nicolas Sierra Santana, alias "Gordo" or "Viagra"; Francisco, Mariano, and Gabino.

Apatzingan and Buenavista are their strongholds, located at a strategic point, on the border with Jalisco,a key area for the production and trafficking of methamphetamine.

There is also Los Templarios, who began operating in Jalisco and then, with the extinction of self-defense groups and the creation of the Rural Force in 2014, found the perfect pretext to regroup, obtain weapons and legitimacy.

In 2018, Juan Jose Farias, alias “El Abuelo,” then operator of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), broke with that organization and created the Tepalcatepec Cartel to combat Los Viagras and Los Templarios.

Separately, the CJNG continues its operations, which in some localities has alliances with Los Viagras, mainly in Buenavista and the Felipe Carrillo Puerto district, the epicenter of lemon extortion.

In addition, the United Cartels, a network of small splits, operates in the region.

Amid This unpunished criminal power, Bravo was the main promoter of the installation of a military barracks, which was inaugurated last February with an investment of 13 million pesos and capacity for 44 elements.

In addition to this, there are more than 500 federal and state elements deployed in the region.

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