Authorities in the Mexican state of Veracruz restored order at a prison facility Sunday morning after a deadly riot left seven inmates dead and 11 others injured. The violence erupted Saturday afternoon at the Social Reintegration Center in Tuxpan and continued throughout the night before officials regained control.
The Department of Public Security of Veracruz confirmed in a statement posted on X that the injured prisoners are receiving medical attention and that fires started by inmates during the unrest have been extinguished. Videos from Tuxpan showed columns of smoke rising from the prison on Saturday, while social media footage depicted inmates with burn injuries.
State security forces conducted a coordinated operation with support from the Mexican Navy, Army, National Guard, and State Human Rights Commission to contain the violence. The department said, “As a result of the riot, we report the tragic deaths of seven inmates and 11 injured people.” Full control of the facility was restored around 9 a.m. Sunday morning.
According to inmates who recorded videos during the disturbance, the riot began when a group of prisoners rebelled against a criminal organization known as Grupo Sombra that had been extorting prisoners and their families. Local media reported that inmates had requested authorities guarantee their safety when faced with threats from prisoners accused of being part of the violent criminal group.
The prisoners reportedly demanded that authorities allow human rights activists and press access to the prison to investigate allegations that Grupo Sombra was abusing and extorting inmates. The criminal organization first appeared publicly in 2017 when its members distributed frozen turkeys and soda to Veracruz residents during Christmas, forcing recipients to pose for photos showing gratitude.
Three inmates identified as key instigators of the violence were transferred to another facility following the riot. No additional incidents occurred after their relocation. The injured inmates were transported to local hospitals for treatment, though their current conditions have not been disclosed.
The Tuxpan prison was holding 778 prisoners in June, exceeding its designed capacity of 735 inmates according to the latest official data. This overcrowding reflects broader challenges facing Mexican correctional facilities, where conflicts between cartels and organized crime groups often replicate tensions from outside prison walls.
Grupo Sombra considers itself a splinter group of the Gulf Cartel and aims to fight the Los Zetas syndicate and Jalisco New Generation Cartel in Veracruz. The organization claims to engage in social work that the Mexican government does not provide, though it has been linked to recent violent crimes including the murder of a 65-year-old retired teacher in July.
Veracruz has experienced a surge in extortion and violent crime in recent months. Days before the prison riot, a taxi driver in Tuxpan was shot and hospitalized. A gunman later posed as the victim’s relative, entered the hospital, and attempted to kill the driver. When the victim’s father tried to intervene, he was fatally shot, though the taxi driver survived the second assassination attempt.
The state has also witnessed targeted violence against political figures. In May, a mayoral candidate and three supporters were shot dead at a campaign event. Last December, a Mexican congressman from the ruling coalition was killed in Veracruz.
Prison riots have occurred elsewhere in Mexico recently. Last month, three inmates died in a riot at a prison in the northwestern state of Sinaloa. A 2012 report by Mexico’s human rights commission found that six out of 10 Mexican prisons are controlled by either prison gangs or drug cartels.
Mexican correctional facilities struggle with overcrowding and corruption, creating environments where criminal organizations can maintain influence and control. The latest violence at Tuxpan demonstrates how external cartel conflicts penetrate prison populations, threatening inmate safety and institutional security.
