- Five men linked to the kidnapping and murder of 10 workers from a Canadian mining company were arrested by Mexican authorities on Sunday.
- The 10 workers, all Mexicans, were kidnapped at gunpoint on January 23 from a silver mining project belonging to Vancouver-based Vizsla Silver in the violence-plagued state of Sinaloa.
- The bodies of the 10 men, including two engineers and a geologist, were later found buried in clandestine graves.
- The defense ministry of Mexico stated that the suspects belonged to a faction of the Sinaloa cartel.
- The government indicated that the workers were mistaken for members of a rival faction of the Sinaloa cartel.
- The suspects were reported to work for a faction controlled by the sons of Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, who is serving a life sentence in the United States.
- In June, Mexico announced the arrest of another suspect, identified as Gabriel N., alias Gabito, a hitman for the same faction.
- Abductions by armed groups are common in Mexico, where more than 120,000 people have vanished since the 1950s, many of them abducted and killed by drug cartels.
- The Sinaloa cartel has been designated a terrorist organization by Washington.
Mexican authorities announced the arrest of five men linked to the kidnapping and murder of 10 workers from the Canadian mining company Vizsla Silver. The workers were abducted on January 23 from a silver mining project in Sinaloa, a region notorious for cartel violence.12
The victims, all Mexicans, were mistakenly identified as members of a rival faction of the Sinaloa cartel. Their bodies, including those of two engineers and one geologist, were later discovered in clandestine graves. The Mexican defense ministry confirmed that the suspects are affiliated with a faction controlled by the sons of Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, who is serving a life sentence in the U.S.349
In June, another suspect, identified as Gabriel N., alias Gabito, was arrested for his role in the same faction. The violence in Sinaloa has escalated due to internecine fighting among cartel factions since September 2024, leading to widespread abductions and killings.78
Mines in Mexico have frequently been targeted by organized crime, as cartels seek to extort or sell valuable resources. However, it is rare for international companies to face such direct threats. Michael Konnert, President and CEO of Vizsla, expressed devastation over the tragic loss of life, stating, “Our deepest condolences are with our colleagues' families, friends and co-workers.” The situation remains dire, with over 120,000 people reported missing in Mexico since the 1950s, many due to cartel violence.
“The workers, all Mexicans, were kidnapped at gunpoint on January 23 from a silver mining project owned by Vancouver-based Vizsla Silver in Sinaloa. The government said the men were mistaken for members of a rival cartel faction, and the suspects worked for a group controlled by sons of jailed drug lord Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán.”
CBS News
