Union leader Santiago Vali Castillo assassinated in Tuxpan, Veracruz

Santiago Vali Castillo, leader of the SITRAC RM union, was shot and killed on the night of Saturday, October 24, inside the Wings Army restaurant in Tuxpan, Veracruz. An armed individual approached the victim and fired at close range before fleeing the scene.

Vali Castillo had publicly reported threats and harassment since 2025. He had previously alleged intimidation from members of the Tuxpan Transport and Haulage Union, affiliated with the CTM, regarding labor disputes and construction contracts involving the company Gas de Calidad at the Development Pole.

The assassination occurred shortly before a national transport strike scheduled for Monday, October 26, organized to demand increased highway security. Authorities from the municipal, state, and federal levels, including the Mexican Army and Navy, deployed security operations in the area, but no suspects have been apprehended. The Veracruz State Attorney General's Office has opened an investigation to determine the motive.