Police Officers and Hitmen as Accomplices: Criminal Network Behind the Murder of a Female Reporter in Moloacán Busted

What lies behind the case that has once again thrust the “Grupo Sombra” into the national spotlight? The kidnapping and murder of reporter Roxana Guzmán has caused deep shock across Mexico. 

The journalist, a native of Nanchital, Veracruz, went missing; days later, the Veracruz Attorney General’s Office confirmed that charred remains found at a ranch in the Zapata community—located in the municipality of Moloacán—belonged to her. The case not only exposes the violence faced by journalists but also highlights the power that certain criminal organizations still wield in various regions of the country. 

Eight people allegedly linked to the crime were arrested; among them were reportedly four suspected operatives of Grupo Sombra, while—according to information released by journalist Fluvio César Martínez—the other detainees were municipal police officers from the southeast, accused of collaborating with the criminal organization. 

If these accusations are confirmed, the case would once again demonstrate the potential infiltration of organized crime into public security institutions. But who exactly is Grupo Sombra? Their first public appearances date back to December 2017 in northern Veracruz municipalities such as Tuxpan and Poza Rica. 

At that time, members of the group distributed frozen turkeys and soft drinks to local residents. However, behind this apparent act of charity lay a strategy of control. They forced people to take photos with them and post messages of gratitude on social media, accompanied by flyers in which the group claimed credit for the handouts. 

Over the years, the group consolidated its presence through a combination of intimidation, propaganda, and violence. One of the most notorious incidents occurred in July 2025 with the kidnapping of Irma Hernández Cruz, a retired teacher who worked as a taxi driver in Alamo. 

While held captive, she appeared in a video surrounded by armed men, delivering a message to other taxi drivers urging them to pay the fees demanded by the “Veracruz Mafia”—a faction linked to Grupo Sombra. Days later, the woman was found dead—an incident that once again raised alarms regarding the level of violence in the region. Now, the murder of Roxana Guzmán has once again placed this criminal group—allegedly linked to the Gulf Cartel—under national scrutiny. 

As investigations continue and authorities work to fully clarify the case, questions are being raised about the protection of journalists, the infiltration of public institutions by organized crime, and the challenges the State faces in guaranteeing security in regions where these organizations maintain a strong presence. 

But tell us: do you think these arrests represent real progress against these criminal organizations, or are they just the beginning of a much deeper investigation? 

Sources: Milenio, Cartel Insider Archives