Mexican authorities have recently uncovered more bodies from a mine operated by Canadian company Vizsla Silver Corp., raising further concerns over an ongoing tragedy. On Monday, the Attorney General’s Office revealed that five of the 10 missing workers had been identified among ten bodies found in clandestine graves in nearby communities. These identifications came as news to many families who had hoped their loved ones were still alive.
Vizsla Silver Corp. has issued a statement expressing devastation over the loss, stating they are awaiting confirmation from authorities on the remaining unidentified bodies and supporting all affected families during this difficult time. Michael Konnert, Vizsla’s President and CEO, added that the company’s focus remains on finding those who remain missing.
One of these victims is José Manuel Castañeda Hernández, 43 years old, whose body was identified by his brother, Jaime Castañeda. “This has been very painful for us to be here,” said Jaime Castañeda during a CBC interview. His words reflect the anguish and disbelief of many families who have lost loved ones in this tragedy.
The investigation into the disappearance of these 10 workers continues, with new leads emerging from recent discoveries. On Friday, Mexican authorities announced the discovery of bodies in an area linked to ongoing searches for missing individuals at Vizsla’s Concordia project site. Authorities also revealed that four individuals suspected in connection with the disappearances have been arrested.
Vizsla and Mexican authorities have not yet provided specific motives for these abductions or disappearances. However, it is known that this mountainous region has seen significant conflict between rival factions of the Sinaloa cartel over the past year. In January, Vizsla reported the abduction of 10 workers from their facilities, leading to a federal response with increased troop deployments and a search operation.
The Sinaloa state remains rife with organized crime activity aimed at extorting valuable ore or selling it on the black market. This latest discovery in nearby communities adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing search for missing individuals like the group of Mexican tourists abducted last week, resulting in two people being freed and four remaining unaccounted for.
The situation is part of a broader picture affecting the state: more than 7,000 missing persons have been reported in Sinaloa, reflecting a national issue. Recent comments from President Claudia Sheinbaum suggest that efforts to combat cartels are yielding results but remain under scrutiny following remarks about potential U.S. military intervention.
In this context, as she noted last month, the government’s response to cartel threats is seen positively by some while raising concerns for others who fear further action could escalate regional violence and humanitarian crises.