The attorney general of Sinaloa in Mexico expressed her intention to hold discussions with representatives of a Canadian mining company whose staff members were abducted by a suspected faction of the Sinaloa cartel.
Claudia Zulema Sánchez Kondo, the attorney general of Sinaloa, stated on Tuesday that her office had not received any formal communication from Vancouver-based Vizsla Silver since around 10 of its employees were taken from a residence leased by the company on January 23 in Concordia.
Sánchez Kondo mentioned that they are in the process of reaching out to the company’s director to establish contact and gather necessary information. She noted that the initial communication from Vizsla Silver was through a legal representative who reported the kidnappings to Sinaloan authorities via a 911 call on the same day.
Regarding the missing employees, Sinaloan authorities are seeking details on the company’s organizational structure and the roles of the kidnapped individuals. Despite this, Vizsla Silver has not provided any missing persons reports for its employees, with only five official reports filed by their families so far as per the attorney general.
The company has not responded to repeated requests for comments made by CBC News through email and phone.
Vizsla Silver faced previous security challenges related to its Panuco mining project in Sinaloa, where field operations were halted on April 4, 2025, due to security concerns in the region. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing by the company highlighted security risks in certain areas of Mexico, including Sinaloa, associated with criminal organizations.
The abduction of Vizsla Silver employees has become a top security concern for state and federal authorities in Sinaloa amid a violent internal conflict within the Sinaloa cartel that began in September 2024. Mexican federal security and citizen protection secretary, Omar Harfuch, visited the state to coordinate efforts with local officials.
Authorities suspect the involvement of a faction of the Sinaloa cartel known as Los Chapitos in the kidnapping, as mentioned by Harfuch. Recent incidents, including an attack on state lawmakers, are also linked to Los Chapitos, with one lawmaker reportedly in a medically-induced coma.
Federal authorities have deployed troops, including special forces operatives and air support, to search for the missing employees in remote areas around Concordia. Several search warrants have been executed during the investigation, resulting in the seizure of electronic devices and identification cards belonging to the employees.
Sinaloa Governor Rubén Rocha reported potential arrests related to the ongoing search efforts. Global Affairs Canada confirmed that no Canadians are believed to be among the abducted individuals. Additionally, the Canadian government is gearing up for a significant trade mission to Mexico in mid-February.