Veracruz (Mexico), August 4, 2025 – The dismembered remains of at least three individuals were discovered this Monday abandoned on the state highway Poza Rica–Cazones near Papantla, in northern Veracruz. The grisly scene included a narcomessage, reportedly signed by the criminal organization Grupo Sombra, which is linked to extortion and assaults on inmates that triggered a riot at the Tuxpan prison earlier this weekend. Military, National Guard, and local police forces promptly closed and cordoned off the highway while forensic teams initiated criminal investigations including field and laboratory analyses to determine the victims’ identities and total number. The shocking find has aroused fear among residents of the region, which has seen escalating violence involving organized crime groups such as CJNG, Gulf Cartel, Sinaloa Cartel, Zetas Vieja Escuela, and Grupo Sombra. The prison riot last weekend resulted in eight inmates dead and several others critically injured.
Veracruz dismembered bodies, Grupo Sombra, Papantla highway, Poza Rica‑Cazones road, narco‑message, Veracruz violence, Tuxpan prison riot, organized crime Mexico
