9 silver miners abducted in Mexico confirmed dead, B.C.-based company says

Vizsla Silver's Panuco Project in Sinaloa, Mexico, is shown in this photo from the company's website. (Credit: vizslasilvercorp.com)

Nine of 10 workers abducted from a work site in Mexico’s Sinaloa state have been found dead, a Vancouver-based mining company confirmed Monday.

Viszla Silver posted an update online, saying the investigation into a still-missing tenth worker is ongoing.

“This is a devastating outcome, and our heartfelt condolences are with all the families impacted. We stand beside them with continued support as we mourn our colleagues and friends,” said Michael Konnert, president and CEO, in the statement.

“We will always carry this loss with us.”

The workers were abducted in January from staff quarters at a site near the city of Concordia, in a region plagued by cartel-related violence.

None were Canadian nationals, federal officials said at the time.

In a promotional video published in September 2023, Vizsla Silver said it had more than 200 employees at its Panuco mine project site, with 70 per cent of those workers coming from local communities.

The company’s last update came in February, when it said five of the workers were unaccounted for.

“Given the seriousness of the situation, the company will comment only on confirmed information as it becomes available and will not engage with unfounded rumors or speculation,” the February statement said.

“Vizsla Silver operates in compliance with applicable Mexican and Canadian laws. A zero-tolerance approach is maintained toward bribery, corruption, extortion, and any form of unlawful or unethical conduct.”

While on-site work at the site was suspended after the abduction, remote work continued.

“The Company remains committed to responsibly developing the Panuco district over the long term and maintaining its investment in the community of Concordia,” the February statement said.

An advisory urging Canadians to avoid non-essential travel to the state of Sinaloa, with some exceptions, remains in place on account of “high levels of violence and organized crime.”