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United States halts import of Mexican avocados after American inspector in Mexico is threatened

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The United States has suspended the import of Mexican avocados this weekend, after a US safety inspector at an avocado plant in Mexico received a violent threat on his official phone.

“U.S. health authorities … made the decision after one of their officials, who was carrying out inspections in Uruapan, Michoacan, received a threatening message on his official cellphone,” wrote the Mexican Agricultural Department in a statement. 

Many US officials in Michoacan, the avocado-growing center of Mexico have reported receiving threats while working in the country. The threats typically attempt to extort money from the officials and threaten violence if they do not comply.

In 2019, after a group of US officials were robbed at gunpoint while traveling in Mexico, the US government issued a stark warning to Mexico that if another incident occurred, it would take action.

“For future situations that result in a security breach, or demonstrate an imminent physical threat to the well-being of APHIS personnel, we will immediately suspend program activities,” the government wrote at the time.

The current import suspension is in place “until further notice,” according to the US government.

ARTICLE: LAURA SPIVAK

MANAGING EDITOR: CARSON CHOATE

PHOTO CREDITS: AXIOS

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Laura Spivak

Laura is a freelance writer out of Maryland and a mom of three. Her background is in political science and international relations, and she has been doing political writing and editing for 17 years. Laura has also written parenting pieces for the Today Show and is currently working on writing a collection of remarkable true stories about normal people. She writes for FBA because unbiased news is vital to unity, and readers deserve the facts free of opinion.

Laura is a freelance writer out of Maryland and a mom of three. Her background is in political science and international relations, and she has been doing political writing and editing for 17 years. Laura has also written parenting pieces for the Today Show and is currently working on writing a collection of remarkable true stories about normal people. She writes for FBA because unbiased news is vital to unity, and readers deserve the facts free of opinion.

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