The Veracruz Prosecutor's Office confirms the arrest of two suspects involved in the kidnapping and murder of Irma Hernández.

The Veracruz State Attorney General's Office (FGE) announced the arrest of two individuals for their probable participation in the deprivation of liberty of Irma Hernández Cruz , a retired teacher and taxi driver from the municipality of Álamo Temapache, Veracruz, who was kidnapped on July 18 and whose body was found days later.

Local authorities reported that after an operation coordinated with the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of the Navy, the Ministry of Public Security, and the Ministerial Police , Víctor Manuel "N" and José Eduardo "N" , alleged members of a criminal group, were arrested.

"During the operation, they seized vehicles, firearms, ballistic cartridges, a knife, cell phones, cash, dried green grass with characteristics similar to marijuana, as well as a substance with characteristics similar to crystal meth," the prosecutor's office detailed.

The arrest of these two individuals comes after Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum pledged Friday morning to clarify the murder of Hernández Cruz .

"Since her disappearance was reported, there was immediate cooperation from the security cabinet. We are working with the Veracruz Prosecutor's Office and the governor (Rocío Nahle) to get to the bottom of these events and ensure there is no impunity," the head of the executive branch said during her morning press conference at the National Palace.

Sheinbaum described the case as "regrettable" and reiterated that her administration has been working since day one to combat insecurity, particularly crimes like extortion.

The Veracruz prosecutor's office confirmed the location of Irma Hernández Cruz, who was kidnapped by an armed group while driving a taxi in Álamo Temapache. She remained missing for several days, with no ransom demand from her captors.

A video was later released in which the victim appears on her knees, surrounded by armed men, pleading with her fellow taxi drivers to pay the "fee" demanded by a criminal organization. "You don't play with the Veracruz mafia," the recording says.

The teacher's murder comes two weeks after Sheinbaum launched a national strategy against extortion, a common crime in several areas of Mexico.

The Veracruz state commission for the search for missing persons issued an alert to locate 62-year-old Irma Hernández Cruz after it was reported that she had been kidnapped by alleged criminals a week ago in the city of Álamo.

Drug trafficking gangs have expanded their criminal activities to include extortion, kidnapping, and human trafficking in various parts of Mexico.

It is common for public transport drivers and merchants to be extorted with so-called "quotas" or "derecho de piso" (floor fees).

If you refuse, criminals may retaliate by setting fire to vehicles or businesses, and in some cases like this, kidnapping and killing their victims.

( With information from AFP. )