Family members have identified the bodies of three employees from Vancouver-based Vizsla Silver Corp., kidnapped on January 23 from Concordia, a municipality 50 kilometers east of Mazatlán in Sinaloa, Mexico. The discoveries heighten grief amid escalating cartel violence in the region.
Identifications Confirmed Near Rural Village
Jaime Castañeda viewed photographs presented by officials at the federal attorney general’s office in Mazatlán on Sunday, confirming the identity of his 43-year-old brother, geologist José Manuel Castañeda Hernández. Originally from Guerrero, the victim was a husband and father to a 14-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter.
“In truth, this has been very painful to be here, in a place we don’t want to be,” Jaime Castañeda stated in a telephone interview. “It’s so hard to see how they suffer. There’s no justice with what’s happening.”
The three men—José Manuel Castañeda Hernández, Ignacio Aurelio Salazar Flores, 40, from Zacatecas, and José Ángel Hernández Vélez, 37, also from Zacatecas—were found dead late last week near El Verde, a rural village 15 kilometers north of Concordia. Authorities describe the site as containing bodies and human remains.
Zacatecas state Attorney General Cristian Paul Camacho noted that families of two employees from the state identified bodies in Mazatlán. “We are in communication with both families, and one is already carrying out identification procedures,” Camacho said.
Ignacio Aurelio Salazar Flores’s wife, Dayanara Nataly Esparza, confirmed his identity, describing it as “the toughest day” of her life. Sen. Geovanna Bañuelos from Zacatecas verified Hernández Vélez’s identity via social media, prompting condolences from Capstone Copper.
Cartel War Fuels Violence Surge
The kidnappings occur amid a 18-month conflict between Sinaloa Cartel factions: Los Chapitos, loyal to the sons of imprisoned Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán, and La Mayiza, aligned with Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada’s son. Mexico’s Security Secretary Omar Harfuch suspects a Los Chapitos-linked cell in the abductions.
The Attorney General’s Office reported finding bodies matching one missing worker’s characteristics at El Verde but did not specify numbers or label it a mass grave.
Company Response and Ongoing Search
Vizsla Silver issued a statement expressing devastation: “We are devastated by this outcome and the tragic loss of life. Our deepest condolences go to our colleagues’ families, friends, coworkers, and the Concordia community. Our focus remains on safely recovering those still missing and supporting affected families.”
Jaime Castañeda encountered at least seven other families at the attorney general’s office seeking to identify remains from the site.
Analyst Views Possible Motives
David Mora, a senior analyst with the International Crisis Group, visited Concordia mid-January and heard from displaced families that La Mayiza had assured safety after ousting Los Chapitos. “Assuming Los Chapitos orchestrated the kidnapping, it signals they are not out of the picture,” Mora said. “Targeting foreign company workers highlights strategic interests in minerals and logging, adding a political dimension.”
Escalating Casualties in Sinaloa
Statistics from Noroeste news organization show 2,776 intentional homicides and 3,290 missing persons reports in Sinaloa since the factional war intensified in 2024.
José Manuel Castañeda Hernández, a lifelong miner like his father, last saw his brother on January 7 in Cuernavaca before he headed to work. “He loved mining and exploration. He was like a son to me—I raised him. I’m left with memories of a noble man who always helped others and told the truth,” Jaime Castañeda reflected.
