Vizsla Silver, a company based in Vancouver, has confirmed that nine out of the ten workers who were kidnapped in Concordia, Sinaloa, Mexico, in late January have been found dead. In a recent news release, the company stated that nine of their colleagues have been discovered deceased, while one worker still remains missing, and the company is supporting the ongoing investigation by authorities.
The abduction of the workers occurred on January 23, and in February, ten bodies were discovered in Concordia, situated around 50 kilometers east of Mazatlán. The Mexican attorney general’s office had initially identified five of the workers. Subsequently, two more workers were confirmed dead, leaving three still unaccounted for.
The workers were taken from a secure residential area in Concordia, a municipality in Sinaloa. Mexican authorities have connected the kidnappings to Los Chapitos, a faction of the Sinaloa cartel led by the sons of the incarcerated druglord, Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. This faction is engaged in a conflict with La Mayiza, a rival group loyal to the son of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, who previously co-led the Sinaloa cartel with Guzmán.
There were inquiries into whether Vizsla Silver Corp. could be held responsible for the abduction. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum mentioned on February 13 that an investigation was needed to determine the labor conditions of the miners and the potential responsibility of the company’s employees.
Vizsla Silver has pledged full cooperation with Mexican authorities during the investigation. Michael Konnert, the President and CEO of Vizsla Silver, expressed deep condolences to the affected families and emphasized the company’s dedication to supporting them during this tragic time. Global Affairs Canada had confirmed that there were no reports of any missing Canadians in the abduction incident.