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The abduction of ten workers tied to Vancouver-based Vizsla Silver Corp. has left grieving families and investigators scrambling for clarity after the discovery of multiple bodies in the mountainous region around Concordia, in Sinaloa. The incident, which began with the kidnapping on Jan. 23, unfolded against a backdrop of intense armed clashes between rival factions of the Sinaloa cartel, creating a hazardous environment for miners, local residents and security teams.
Relatives have been asked to identify remains at federal offices in Mazatlán, a process that confirmed the deaths of several men who worked for Vizsla Silver. The company operates the Panuco exploration project east of Concordia and has stated it suspended on-site activities while continuing engineering work remotely.
What happened during the kidnapping and discovery
According to family members and authorities, a group of 10 workers — including geologists, engineers and security personnel — were taken from a gated residential compound in Concordia on Jan. 23. Mexican federal investigators later located bodies and human remains near a rural site called El Verde, roughly 15 kilometres north of Concordia, and confirmed the identities of some victims through forensic procedures.
The Attorney General’s Office (FGR) reported the recovery of multiple bodies and remains without using the term “mass grave” in its initial statements. Local media and families, however, described the scene as a mass burial. Among those identified were men from Guerrero and Zacatecas, and relatives say the loss has devastated households who relied on the victims’ income and presence.
Security context: cartel violence and local control
Sinaloa has experienced a surge of violence tied to an 18-month civil war between factions of the Sinaloa cartel. The conflict pits a group known as Los Chapitos — loyal to the sons of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán — against another faction, La Mayiza, aligned with the family of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada. The rivalry has produced checkpoints, armed patrols and aerial surveillance by drones in areas where mining operations are located.
Security consultants and relatives describe a reality in which non-state armed actors control access and movement. Workers reported being stopped at irregular checkpoints and hearing gunfire near living compounds and exploration sites. These conditions raised concerns about the ability of companies to ensure safety even when they hire external security advisors.
Theories under investigation
Mexican authorities, including Security and Civilian Protection Secretary Omar Harfuch, have said investigators suspect a cell linked to Los Chapitos carried out the kidnapping. Officials are probing multiple lines of inquiry: whether the abductors mistakenly identified the workers as rival-aligned, whether there were prior dealings between the company and a cartel faction, and whether the crime was connected to extortion — though Harfuch stated there is no evidence of extortion complaints against Vizsla Silver.
Security consultants expressed scepticism that a faction like Los Chapitos would commit such an act without verifying identities, suggesting a deliberate motive possibly tied to local power struggles. Investigators say interrogations of arrested suspects are helping to shape the evolving picture, and further arrests may produce additional details.
Company response and family pleas
Vizsla Silver issued a statement saying it invested significantly in security, retained international advisers and acted cautiously based on available intelligence. The company confirmed it is providing support — both practical and financial — to families and offering grief counselling to teams in Mexico and Canada. It emphasized compliance with Mexican and Canadian laws and asserted a zero-tolerance stance on bribery, extortion and unlawful conduct.
Families, however, voice frustration with the pace and scope of investigations. Lawyers representing relatives argue that local and federal agencies have at times shifted responsibility, leaving cases in limbo. Human rights groups and the UN Committee on Enforced Disappearances have pressed Mexican authorities to treat related abductions with urgency, noting patterns of disappearances across the state.
Human cost and local voices
For loved ones, the tragedy is intensely personal. Relatives described identifying bodies in Mazatlán and confronting the loss of fathers, husbands and sons. One mother declared she would “do the impossible” to find her missing son, while other family members criticized official responses as inadequate. Community advocates warn that without sustained attention, many disappearances in Sinaloa will remain unresolved.
The episode raises broader questions about how multinational firms manage operations in areas where criminal groups exert influence. Experts caution that in regions long controlled by narcotrafficking organisations, businesses, politicians and civil society must navigate a complex web of power, often with limited options to guarantee safety without engaging local actors.
Next steps for justice and safety
Investigators continue to gather evidence at the El Verde site, interview suspects and liaise with families to confirm identities. Authorities have pledged to follow leads and make further arrests as needed. Meanwhile, Vizsla Silver maintains that it will cooperate with officials and support affected families.
As the community waits for more answers, the case underscores the intersection of natural resource projects and organized crime, and the urgent need for transparent, coordinated responses when violence endangers workers and civilians. The search for truth and accountability remains ongoing.