Factories owned by Pepsi 'attacked with firebombs when they refused to pay protection money to Mexican drug cartel'

A drug cartel lieutenant has been arrested over a series of firebomb attacks on Mexican potato-chip company Sabritas, a subsidiary of U.S. food giant PepsiCo.

The gang-related bombings are believed to be the first time a multinational company has been targeted in Mexico's 5½-year-long drug war.

Experts suggested that the attack may be linked to the company's apparent refusal to hand over protection money to the gangs which have terrorised local residents and businesses.Five Sabritas warehouses and vehicle lots were attacked on Friday and Saturday in the Mexican states of Michoacan and Guanajuato.

Witnesses in one case described armed, masked men who tossed firebombs and torched dozens of the company's distribution trucks and some warehouses.

[link to www.dailymail.co.uk]