Daijiworld Media Network - Mexico City
Mexico City, Aug 6: The United States has suspended all government operations in the Mexican state of Michoacan following what it described as a "threat to U.S. interests", temporarily halting inspections required for avocado exports to the American market.
In a security alert issued on Wednesday, the U.S. Embassy announced the suspension but did not disclose the exact nature of the threat.
Michoacan Governor Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla later said the decision was taken as a precaution to protect inspection personnel after recent arrests linked to extortion activities in the region.
The suspension affects inspections conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which are mandatory before avocados can be exported to the United States. Any prolonged disruption could impact exports from Mexico, the largest supplier of avocados to the U.S.
Michoacan, the country's leading avocado-producing state, accounts for the majority of Mexico's avocado exports and has long been affected by organised crime. At least four criminal cartels, designated as terrorist organisations by the Trump administration, operate in the region. Besides drug trafficking, these groups are involved in extortion targeting businesses, including the lucrative avocado industry.
Michoacan State Security Secretary Antonio Cruz said one of the recent arrests cited by the governor involved Alfonso Fernández Magallón, also known as "El Poncho", the alleged leader of a local cartel operating in the avocado-growing region around Los Reyes.
Fernández Magallón was arrested over the weekend. The United States had previously announced a reward of USD 5 million for information leading to his capture. U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson welcomed the arrest.
Cruz said authorities were not aware of any direct threats or attacks against USDA inspectors. However, around 300 security personnel were deployed to the Los Reyes region as a precautionary measure.
Governor Ramírez Bedolla said the immediate priority was to restore security conditions that would allow inspection operations to resume safely, as had happened following previous disruptions.
Mexico supplies nearly 80 per cent of all avocados imported by the United States. Often referred to as "green gold", avocado cultivation supports around 200,000 jobs in Michoacan alone and remains one of the state's most important agricultural industries.
According to official figures, Mexico exported avocados worth approximately USD 3.65 billion to the United States in 2025. During the first four months of the current year, exports increased by 35 per cent compared with the corresponding period last year.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture regularly deploys inspectors to Mexican orchards and packing facilities to certify that produce exported to the United States is free from pests. Inspection work has been suspended on previous occasions because of threats and violence against U.S. personnel.