9 Abducted Workers from Canadian Mining Firm Vizsla Silver Confirmed Dead in Mexico

Vancouver mining company Vizsla Silver confirmed some terrible news today. Search teams found nine of their missing workers dead in Sinaloa, Mexico. An armed group kidnapped these ten workers in January. The company still cannot find the tenth worker.

The Kidnapping at the Panuco Project

The trouble started on January 23. An armed gang broke into a secure housing compound in Concordia. The gang took ten workers by force. These workers did jobs like engineering and security.

They worked at the Panuco project. This site mines gold and silver. It sits about 50 kilometres east of Mazatlán. Families waited weeks for news. Then, Mexican police found hidden graves in February. On Monday, Vizsla Silver shared a very sad update. They confirmed the identities of nine dead workers.

“This is a devastating outcome, and our heartfelt condolences are with all the families impacted,” said Michael Konnert. He is the President and CEO of Vizsla Silver. “We stand beside them with continued support as we mourn our colleagues and friends. We will always carry this loss with us.”

The company is still looking for the last missing worker. They talk with the family often. They also help the Mexican police with the ongoing search.

Cartel Violence and the Police Search

Sinaloa has a long history of organized crime. Mexican police say the “Los Chapitos” group caused this kidnapping. The sons of the famous drug lord Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán lead this group. They are fighting a rival group called “La Mayiza” for control of the area.

The Mexican government sent many police officers to the region after the kidnapping. The police arrested four people. They believe these four people helped plan and carry out the crime.

Top Mexican leaders are also looking closely at this case. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum spoke about it earlier this year. She said the government is checking the working conditions at the mine. They want to know if anyone threatened the workers before the kidnapping.

What This Means for Canadians

Global Affairs Canada shared some good news early on. No Canadian citizens went missing in this attack. However, this sad event serves as a warning for Canadians who travel or do business in Mexico.

Vizsla Silver stopped all work at the mine right after the attack. Some staff continued to work from home. The company says it follows all laws in Mexico and Canada. They do not accept any bribes or illegal activity.

Canadians should be very careful if they plan to visit Sinaloa. The Canadian government still warns people not to travel there. They say the area has high levels of crime and violence. People should only go if it is absolutely necessary.

Important Disclaimer

The details in this article come from Vizsla Silver Corp. and Mexican police statements as of April 2026. This is an active police case. Please check Global Affairs Canada for official travel warnings.

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