Mexican Mob Holds Margaritas Hostage

Why does Mexico, the biggest lime producer, also have the world's most expensive limes? Ask the country's crime bosses.

Mexico's mobsters are squeezing lime growers and no one seems to be doing anything about it. The racket goes like this: criminals in lime growing states block roads and extort a fee for every truckload of limes they let pass. The choice for lime growers is simple -- they can pay or be killed. Those smart enough to pay push the "tax" up the supply chain until it hits consumers.

Lime prices have risen more than 200 percent since December to 80 pesos ($6.10) a kilogram, higher than Mexico's daily minimum wage. Limes alone were responsible for a third of last month's consumer price index increase. The lime crisis is no joking matter in a country where the citrus fruit is such a popular condiment that it ranks as the equivalent of mayonnaise in the U.S.