Tuxpan Prison Riot: 7 Dead, 11 Injured in Veracruz

This article by Ivan Sanchez originally appeared in the August 4, 2025 edition of La Jornada, Mexico’s premier left wing daily newspaper.

Veracruz. At least seven inmates died and 11 were injured during a riot at the Social Reintegration Center (Cereso) in the municipality of Tuxpan, in the north of the state, reported the state Public Security Secretariat (SSP).

On Saturday, prisoners rioted inside the prison to protest their discontent with the organized criminal association Grupo Sombra [Shadow Group], which has taken control of the facility with the support of some authorities.

During the brawl, which included fights and fires, authorities reported 11 injuries, who were taken to nearby hospitals. They also reported that three inmates identified as the instigators were transferred to the Pánuco prison.

The deceased inmates are: Edgar Luis Hernandez Reina, Elmer Leonel Lopez Lopez, Jesus Eduardo Espinoza Santiago, Edgar Estuardo Acajaban Lacan, Fernando de la Cruz Moctezuma, Roberto Garcia Soto and Eric Augusto Abad Morales, the Veracruz government reported.

Security sources indicated that William Alexis Molina Cabrera, one of the inmates reported injured, died at the hospital while receiving treatment.

In this context, he reported that Lucas Salazar Monroy, Gonzalo Vargas Santiago, Cesar Estuardo Abad Morales, Joselito Cruz Hernandez, Roberto Carlos Leyva Garcia, Jose Alberto Lopez Martinez, Luis Francisco Saragon Rivera, Luis Enrique Cristobal Ramos and Jose Alfredo Jimenez Lozano are hospitalized.

Meanwhile, the SSP reported that it regained control of the prison with the support of personnel from the Navy, National Defense, and National Guard departments.

He explained that the burning of various objects in the prison was completely extinguished following the weekend riots.

The state administration reported that yesterday, around 9 a.m., during a coordinated operation, order was restored and control was regained at the Tuxpan prison.

According to some videos recorded by the inmates, the brawl began due to the inmates’ growing exhaustion with the abuses of the Grupo Sombra, which commits extortion and threatens inmates and their families from within the prison.

In one of the recordings, a man identified as Alonso Delgado claimed to have controlled the prison on behalf of the criminal group until he was relieved of his duties.

He explained that they control quotas, drug trafficking, and other crimes with the support of prison authorities.

In response to these allegations, Veracruz Governor Rocio Nahle García (Morena) has not issued any official position nor has it denied what was reported on social media.