Avocado exported to China bears the seal of La Familia Michoacana

Aguacate exported to China bears the mark of La Familia Michoacana, according to reports revealing that avocado shipments from Michoacán include produce cultivated under the operations of José de Jesús Méndez Vargas, known as El Chango, a former leader of the criminal organization. The findings indicate that El Chango, who was expelled to the United States last year, continues to exert influence over agricultural production in key regions of Michoacán. The avocado exports originate from areas including Uruapan, Tancítaro, Salvador Escalante, Tacámbaro, and Ario de Rosales, regions renowned for their high yields of avocados, often referred to as the "green gold." These operations function within legal frameworks, with permits granted by the government of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. Among these permitted operations is Manuel Fernández Valencia, known as La Puerca, who previously operated under La Familia Michoacana before joining the Sinaloa Cartel alongside the sons of Joaquín Guzmán, known as El Chapo. According to intelligence information obtained by El Universal, both El Chango and La Puerca control more than 50 avocado orchards across the five municipalities mentioned. These orchards are registered with the Secretariat of Agriculture and Rural Development (Sader) and have been authorized for international sales since February 2020. Verification through the databases of the National Service for Food Safety, Innocuousness, and Agricultural Quality (Senasica) confirms that these orchards appear on the list titled "Registered Avocado Orchards for Export to China," accessible via the official website of the Mexican government. Documents obtained by the newspaper show that El Chango and La Puerca collectively manage approximately 500 hectares of land across multiple locations. Specific orchards such as La Mora 1, La Mora 36, and La Mora 37 in Tancítaro are highlighted, each with extensive acreage and significant production capacity. These orchards are registered under specific numbers and include detailed records of area, documentation, and certification from Senasica. José de Jesús Méndez Vargas was arrested in June 2011 by the defunct Federal Police in Aguascalientes. During an interrogation, he admitted to involvement in both agriculture and drug trafficking. Despite serving a 45-year prison sentence for organized crime, the Ministry of Agriculture and Social Development classified him as a farmer when granting permission to sell avocados to the People's Republic of China. Last year, El Chango was transferred to the United States under the administration of President Donald Trump and is currently facing federal charges in New York related to cocaine and methamphetamine trafficking. According to federal authorities, leaders of La Familia Michoacana and later Los Caballeros Templarios invested profits from drug sales into purchasing lemon, avocado, watermelon, and other businesses in the Tierra Caliente region of Michoacán. Among notable cases involving such investments is that of Miguel Ángel Gallegos Godoy, known as Migueladas, head of the Zicuirán Cartel. This pattern highlights how illicit proceeds have been channeled into legitimate agricultural enterprises, allowing figures associated with organized crime to maintain economic influence even after legal repercussions. The presence of these individuals in the agricultural sector raises questions about the extent to which criminal networks have integrated themselves into legal business practices. Their operations, while technically compliant with regulatory standards, underscore the complex interplay between legal commerce and illegal activities in regions marked by persistent violence and corruption. The ongoing legal proceedings against El Chango in the United States suggest that his role in both drug trafficking and agricultural production will remain under scrutiny.