Bernardo Bravo Manríquez, president of the Association of Lemon Producers of the Apatzingán Valley and a prominent national citrus leader, was murdered on Sunday, October 19, 2025, in Apatzingán, Michoacán. The State Attorney General’s Office confirmed his death.
Bravo was reportedly abducted by armed men on Sunday and later found dead inside his own vehicle in Los Tepetates, a rural area near the border of Michoacán and Mexico State. The region is known for its influence by the Michoacán New Generation Cartel (CMNG), a splinter group of the CJNG. Authorities suspect organized crime involvement due to Bravo’s outspoken stance against extortion targeting lemon producers.
In recent months, Bravo had publicly denounced threats and criminal pressure on citrus growers, citing rising insecurity and illegal fees imposed by cartels. In February 2025, he was forced to close association offices after receiving direct threats. He had also called for mobilization to protect agricultural workers and demanded federal intervention to restore safety in the region.
Bravo’s murder has sparked outrage among agricultural unions and human rights organizations, who are demanding a full investigation and increased protection for rural producers. His death underscores the escalating violence in Michoacán’s agricultural sector, where cartels have increasingly targeted lemon growers due to the crop’s high market value.
Local and federal authorities have launched an investigation, but no arrests have been made. Bravo’s legacy as a defender of citrus workers and advocate for rural safety remains strong, and his death is being mourned across Mexico’s farming communities.
Source: Veritas News
