Criminal Governance in Michoacán: Territorial Control, Economic Extortion, and Compliance Implications
Michoacán is not governed by a single cartel, but a fragmented criminal ecosystem with territorial, economic, and political control distributed among at least six groups. The nature of risk varies by zone, from militarized dominance and commodity-based extortion (Tierra Caliente) to retail, political, and financial infiltration (North and Central).
With the attention Michoacan has recently received due to the murder of Uruapan municipal president (mayor) Carlos Manzo Rodriguez, here are some additional insights into the state which are far more complicated than one murder in one municipality.
The map divides Michoacán into two primary operational regions:
Región Norte (Northern Agricultural Belt) – Heavily contested, fragmented control, high political and economic exposure.
Tierra Caliente (South–Southwest) – Dominated by organized criminal governance, strong territorial control, and production zones.
CRIMINAL ACTORS AND THEIR ZONES OF INFLUENCE
CJNG - Red - Tierra Caliente - Militarized expansion - brutal enforcement, economic capture of avocado, iron ore, and port logistics.
Los Viagras - BlueNorth/Center - Extortion networks, local alliances, control over retail drug markets, political infiltration.
Nueva Familia Michoacana (NFM or LFM) - Orange - Northeastern corridor Cross-border routes to State of Mexico, strong family/clan structures, links to Guerrero.
Remnants of Caballeros Templarios - Purple - Scattered pockets (Uruapan, Buenavista, Apatzingán) - Influence now decentralized; focus on kidnapping, extortion, religious-like hierarchy remnants.
Célula de “El Abuelo”Yellow Tepalcatepe -, Buenavista Local self-defense/cartel hybrid - deep community ties, intelligence networks, tactical anti-CJNG resistance.
Military-style territorial control, Roadblocks, checkpoints, armed convoys - CJNG, El Abuelo
Economic extortion & taxation Cobro de piso on agriculture, logistics, manufacturing - Viagras, NFM, LCT
Municipal infiltration Cooptation of local police, elections, mayors - Viagras, NFM, LCT
Criminal governance, Parallel justice systems, forced population control - CJNG, NFM
Cross-border money launderingReal estate, agricultural export, shell companies - All
Red Flags for Banks, Exporters, and Investors:
Supplier location in CJNG or Viagras territory → triggers FinCEN, OFAC, AML scrutiny.
Agriculture (avocado, berries), mining, timber, scrap metal, and logistics companies are often used for money laundering operations.
Businesses located in high-risk municipalities (Apatzingán, Zamora, La Piedad, Aguililla) require enhanced due diligence (EDD) and beneficial ownership verification
