By Jonathon Ferreira
A chilling cross-border tragedy unfolds as abducted Canadian miners are confirmed dead in Mexico’s violence-stricken Sinaloa region, raising urgent questions about security, justice, and the risks faced by foreign workers in cartel-controlled territories.
A Canadian mining company has confirmed that some of its employees who were abducted from a project site in Mexico last month have been found dead, marking a tragic development in a case that has drawn international concern.
Vancouver-based Vizsla Silver Corp said it was informed by family members that relatives of some of the missing workers were discovered deceased. The company stated it is currently awaiting official confirmation from Mexican authorities and will provide further updates once more information becomes available.
Ten employees went missing on 23 January after being taken from a mining site near Concordia, a town in the Mexican state of Sinaloa. The region has long been affected by organised crime and violence, raising fears about the safety of workers operating in remote industrial areas.
Vizsla Silver president and chief executive Michael Konnert expressed deep sorrow over the news, calling the loss of life devastating. He offered condolences to the families of those killed and said the company’s immediate priority remains the safe recovery of any workers who are still unaccounted for.
One family member told Canadian broadcaster CBC News that he personally identified the body of his brother over the weekend. The victim, 43-year-old José Manuel Castañeda Hernández, was employed as a geologist at the mining project.
Speaking to CBC, his brother Jaime Castañeda described the emotional toll of the situation, saying the family never expected to be in such circumstances. He also voiced frustration over the lack of justice, stating that the situation highlights the ongoing insecurity faced by workers in the region.
The case has intensified scrutiny on safety measures for foreign companies operating in high-risk areas of Mexico, particularly in the mining sector, where employees often work in isolated locations. Investigations by Mexican authorities are ongoing.
