In the northwestern Mexican state of Sinaloa, a senior Mexican security official has indicated that the “Los Chapitos” faction of the Sinaloa cartel may have been linked to the abduction of 10 employees of a Canadian mining company. Security and Citizen Protection Secretary Omar García Harfuch mentioned that authorities at the federal and state levels are actively seeking the leader of a group associated with the Los Chapitos faction.
The specific cell believed to be involved in the kidnapping operates near the city of Concordia, centrally located in Sinaloa. The employees of Vizsla Silver Corp. were reportedly taken on January 24 from this area. Harfuch emphasized the relentless pursuit of the responsible individuals during a news briefing in Tijuana, Baja California.
Following the incident, Vizsla Silver Corp. announced a partial suspension of its operations at the site, emphasizing the paramount importance of ensuring the safety and prompt release of their personnel. The company is currently engaged in the development of the Panuco silver and gold mining project in Sinaloa.
The Los Chapitos faction, aligned with the sons of the imprisoned Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzmán, is engaged in a conflict with a rival faction loyal to the son of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, a former co-leader of the Sinaloa cartel alongside El Chapo. The internal strife within the cartel escalated after one of El Chapo’s sons turned against Zambada in July 2024, leading to a violent power struggle resulting in numerous casualties and disappearances in the region.
In response to recent security threats, the Mexican government deployed an additional 1,600 troops to Sinaloa after an attack targeting two lawmakers in Culiacán, the state capital. The Sinaloa attorney general’s office confirmed an ongoing investigation into the abduction of Vizsla Silver’s employees.
Reportedly, the abduction took place on January 24, with state and federal authorities collaborating on search operations. The attorney general’s office executed a search warrant as part of the investigative efforts. According to Latinus, the employees were taken from a residence rented by Vizsla in Concordia by a group of armed individuals.
Global Affairs Canada acknowledged the security incident in Concordia and stated that they were closely monitoring the situation. Although Canadian Embassy officials in Mexico were in contact with Mexican authorities, no Canadian citizens were reported to be directly affected by the incident.
