The attorney general of Sinaloa, Mexico, expressed her intention to engage with representatives from a Canadian mining company whose staff members were abducted by a suspected faction of the Sinaloa cartel. Claudia Zulema Sánchez Kondo, the attorney general, stated that her office has not had any direct communication with Vancouver-based Vizsla Silver since approximately 10 employees were taken from a residence rented by the company on January 23 in Concordia.
Sánchez Kondo emphasized the necessity of initiating a dialogue with the company’s management to clarify the situation, as the only contact received so far was through a legal representative of Vizsla Silver who reported the abductions via a 911 call. She also mentioned that Sinaloan authorities are seeking details from the company regarding the organizational structure and the roles of the abducted employees.
Despite the kidnappings, Vizsla Silver has not submitted any reports of missing persons for its employees. The attorney general mentioned that only five missing persons reports have been lodged by families with the authorities. Efforts to reach out to the company for comments by CBC News through email and phone have gone unanswered.
Vizsla Silver had previously halted operations at its Panuco mining project in Sinaloa due to security concerns in the region. The company cited security issues related to criminal activities, including violence, thefts, and kidnappings by drug cartels, as the reason for suspending field work.
The kidnapping incident involving Vizsla Silver’s employees has become a top security priority for both state and federal authorities in Sinaloa. The state is currently embroiled in a violent internal conflict within the Sinaloa cartel, which erupted in September 2024. Mexican federal security and citizen protection secretary Omar Harfuch visited Sinaloa to confer with state and military officials regarding the situation.
Harfuch indicated suspicions that a faction of the Sinaloa cartel, known as Los Chapitos, played a role in the abductions. The ongoing conflict within the cartel is between factions loyal to the sons of incarcerated drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán and those supporting the son of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada García.
Federal authorities have mobilized troops, including special forces operatives, helicopters, and surveillance planes, to search for the missing Vizsla Silver employees in remote areas around Concordia. Multiple search warrants have been executed as part of the investigation, leading to the seizure of electronic devices and identification cards belonging to the abducted staff.
Governor Rubén Rocha confirmed that there have been potential arrests linked to the search for the missing miners. Global Affairs Canada has reassured that there are no Canadians believed to be among the victims. Additionally, the Canadian government is gearing up for a significant trade mission to Mexico set to commence on February 15.