A riot erupted on August 2, 2025, at the state prison in Tuxpan, Veracruz, Mexico, resulting in the deaths of seven inmates and injuries to 11 others, according to the Veracruz Secretariat of Public Security. The disturbance was reportedly triggered by abuses, extortion, and control exerted by the criminal group known as Grupo Sombra, also referred to as Mafia Veracruzana, within the prison. Following the riot, authorities deployed federal and state forces to restore order and transferred the main instigators to another penitentiary in Pánuco. Images and videos surfaced showing injured inmates and alleged Grupo Sombra members admitting to extortion activities inside the prison. The governor of Veracruz, Rocío Nahle, has called for an investigation into the incident. The Guatemalan Consulate confirmed that five of the deceased inmates were Guatemalan nationals, with one more injured. This confirmation was made through consular officials in Acayucan, Veracruz. The riot has drawn attention to ongoing issues of criminal control and inmate abuse within Veracruz's penal system.