Five bodies found in Mexico after disappearance of Canadian mining workers

By Jorge Antonio Rocha

MEXICO CITY (AA) - Mexican authorities reported Monday the discovery of five bodies belonging to a group of 10 workers from the Canadian mining company Vizsla Silver who had been missing since Jan. 23 in Concordia, Sinaloa, in northwestern Mexico.

The remains were found in the community of El Verde, inside a clandestine grave in Concordia that had been secured by the military over the weekend.

Mexico’s Attorney General’s Office (FGR) said the bodies were located during a joint operation involving the Federal Criminal Investigation Agency, the Ministry of Security and Civilian Protection, the Ministry of National Defense and the National Guard.

Speaking at her regular news conference Monday, President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed that arrests have been made in connection with the disappearance of the miners, adding that suspects led authorities to the site of the clandestine grave.

In a press release, Vizsla Silver President and CEO Michael Konnert expressed grief over the discovery and said the company remains focused on locating the remaining missing workers.

“We are devastated by this outcome and the tragic loss of life. Our deepest condolences are with our colleagues’ families, friends and co-workers, and the entire community of Concordia,” Konnert said.

Disappearances in Mexico have become a major humanitarian crisis, with more than 130,000 people reported missing nationwide. In Sinaloa, rising violence has driven disappearance rates sharply higher over the past two years.