The families of workers from a Canadian mining company who were abducted by a suspected cartel group in the troubled Mexican state of Sinaloa earlier this year are planning to file a complaint with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) against the Vancouver-based firm, according to their legal representative. The families’ lawyer, Odracir Ricardo Espinoza, emphasized the need for the RCMP to investigate whether there was any collaboration between Vizsla Silver Corp.’s local management and an organized armed group in the region.
The area where Vizsla Silver conducts exploration activities is known for being controlled by rival factions of the Sinaloa cartel, which is designated as a terrorist organization in Canada. Mexican authorities have stated that the workers were taken by one of the cartel’s factions.
Espinoza likened the situation to a puzzle missing crucial pieces that the company possesses. Following the abduction on January 23, where armed individuals raided a compound in Concordia, Sinaloa, and took 10 workers, nine bodies were later discovered in clandestine graves near Concordia. The whereabouts of the 10th worker, Francisco Antonio Esparza Yáñez, remain unknown.
The motive behind the kidnapping is still unclear, leading to calls for an investigation into alleged dealings between Vizsla Silver’s management and the armed group. Family members disclosed that Vizsla Silver workers were instructed to wear specific vests to signify their affiliation with the company to the criminal group in control of the area.
The families are demanding that Vizsla Silver provide evidence related to the kidnapping to Mexican authorities, including security footage, GPS data, and internal communications. The company has pledged to cooperate with the ongoing investigation.
Vizsla Silver’s operations are situated in an area marked by intense cartel conflicts, resulting in thousands of casualties and displacements. Despite security concerns leading to a temporary halt in operations in 2025, the company resumed exploration in the region.
Family members are seeking answers from the company regarding its security practices and decision to operate in a volatile setting. One of the missing worker’s sons expressed frustration at the lack of information and assistance from Vizsla Silver in locating his father. Recent arrests of individuals linked to the kidnapping, including a local cartel boss, have been made by Mexican authorities.