The top legal official in Sinaloa, Mexico, is expressing a desire to engage in discussions with representatives of a Canadian mining company whose workers were abducted by a suspected group affiliated with the Sinaloa cartel.
Claudia Zulema Sánchez Kondo, the Attorney General of Sinaloa, mentioned to the media on Tuesday that her office has not had any official contact with Vizsla Silver, based in Vancouver, since around 10 of its staff members were taken from a residence rented by the company on January 23 in Concordia.
Sánchez Kondo stated, “The company has not initiated contact with us. We are currently in the process of requesting a meeting with the company’s director to address all aspects,” according to a video recording provided by her office to CBC News.
She added that the sole communication from the company thus far was through a legal representative for Vizsla Silver, who informed Sinaloa authorities about the abductions via a 911 call on the same day.
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Sinaloa cartel faction linked to kidnapping of Canadian mining firm’s workers: top official
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Canadian mining firm says 10 employees abducted in Sinaloa, Mexico
Sánchez Kondo mentioned that Sinaloa authorities are also requesting information from the company regarding the organizational structure and the roles of the abducted employees.
Vizsla Silver has not submitted any reports of missing persons for its employees, with only five official reports filed by their families received by the authorities so far, stated the Attorney General.
Despite repeated attempts by CBC News via email and phone, the company has not responded to requests for comments.
Operations Halted in April 2025
Vizsla Silver had previously encountered security issues with its Panuco silver and gold exploration project in Sinaloa. It ceased field operations on April 4, 2025, citing “security conditions in the area,” as disclosed in a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
The SEC filing mentioned, “Certain regions in Mexico, including Sinaloa state, have witnessed instances of localized violence, threats, thefts, kidnappings, and extortion linked to drug cartels and other criminal groups.”
The abduction of the employees has become a primary security concern for both state and federal authorities in Sinaloa amidst the internal conflict within the Sinaloa cartel, one of the most influential drug trafficking organizations globally, which erupted in September 2024.
Mexican Secretary of Security and Citizen Protection Omar Harfuch visited the northwestern state on Wednesday to meet with state and military officials.
Harfuch had previously indicated suspicions that a branch of the Sinaloa cartel, identified as Los Chapitos, was involved in the abduction.