Security & Strategic Review - October 2024

Lime producers and packers went on strike in Buenavista municipality, in Mexico’s main lime-producing state of Michoacán, on 12 September following the killing of a local industry figure, José Luis Aguiñaga. It is believed that Aguiñaga was killed after refusing to pay extortion fees demanded by a local criminal group. Although the lime workers resumed activities five days later, the strike action was indicative of the growing problem of extortion facing Mexico’s legal economies, following previous strikes in Michoacán’s lime sector in August and similar issues denounced by those in the retail, fishing, and avocado sectors in recent months.