A new attack against a taxi driver has shaken northern Veracruz. On Saturday, July 26, the driver of taxi number 592 was shot and killed while traveling on the Tuxpan-Cazones highway, near the community of Praxedis Guerrero.
Armed men on a motorcycle intercepted the vehicle and fired at point-blank range, killing the driver instantly. A passenger was seriously injured.
The crime comes amid rising tension in the region, marked by the recent murder of Irma Hernández Cruz, a 62-year-old retired teacher who also worked as a taxi driver and was kidnapped on July 18 in Álamo Temapache. Her case starkly revealed the violence faced by those who refuse to pay extortion fees to organized crime.
The Case That Raised the Alarm: Irma Hernández Cruz
Irma was kidnapped by members of the Grupo Sombra, a cell of the Gulf Cartel, after refusing to pay her “floor rights.” Days later, she appeared in a video, visibly coerced, warning other transporters that they must abide by the criminal group’s rules. “You don’t play with the Veracruz mafia, or you’ll end up like me,” is heard in the footage shared on social media.
Her body was found six days later in a rural area. Governor Rocío Nahle stated that she died of a heart attack while in captivity, although groups and family members have demanded clarification on whether torture was involved.
The Veracruz Prosecutor’s Office arrested two suspects in the crime. They are directly linked to the kidnapping and possible murder of the educator, whose case became emblematic due to the dignity with which, according to testimonies, she faced the extortion.
Extortion, a Constant Against Public Transportation
According to testimonies from local taxi drivers, organized crime extortion is a common practice in the region. Those who refuse, they say, face immediate retaliation.
“You pay out of fear, not out of pleasure. We already saw what happened to the teacher,” said a driver from Tuxpan who preferred not to reveal his name for security reasons.
The latest murder, near the area where Irma Hernández was operating, has revived fear in the industry. Some taxi drivers have stopped operating their vehicles after learning of Saturday’s attack, according to local media.
🚨 ARDE VERACRUZ: Grupo armado embosca taxi #592 en la Tuxpan-Cazones, km 18, a la altura de Praxedis Guerrero. Rafaguean el coche, hieren al pasajero y LEVANTAN al chofer. El vehículo quedó acribillado. Sin un solo detenido. Norte de Veracruz: tierra del crimen. 💀🇲🇽 pic.twitter.com/rQeBE27BB6
— Alex Santiago Angeles 🇲🇽 (@Stgoalex_) July 27, 2025
Official Reaction and Call to the Federal Government
President Claudia Sheinbaum spoke publicly about Irma’s case, requesting a thorough investigation to clarify the causes of her death and strengthen the national strategy against extortion. “There must be justice and guarantees so that no one else has to go through the same ordeal,” she stated during a recent press conference.
The Veracruz government, for its part, has promised to maintain a security operation in the north of the state. However, for many in Tuxpan and Álamo Temapache, the police presence is intermittent and ineffective.
A Pattern of Impunity
The murders of taxi drivers in Veracruz are not new. For years, human rights organizations have warned about the normalization of these attacks, which are often hidden due to the lack of formal complaints. The case of Irma Hernández, as a public figure—a teacher for decades—was the one that managed to break the media silence.
Source: Guillermo Ortega
