Miners Demand Security and Justice Amid Sinaloa Miners' Kidnap

The Association of Mining Engineers, Metallurgists, and Geologists of Mexico (AIMMGM) has expressed grief following the discovery of deceased miners who were abducted on Jan. 23 in Concordia, Sinaloa. AIMMGM’s call joins other mining organizations that called for security conditions to continue carrying out an activity that brings employment and development to isolated communities. 

In a formal statement, AIMMGM demanded that the incident not go unpunished and called for intensified efforts to locate workers who remain missing. AIMMGM emphasized its solidarity with the families and communities of the victims, rejecting all forms of violence and the environments of insecurity that threaten the lives of mining workers and the population in general. "As an organization that represents the professionals and technicians of the mining-metallurgical industry, we raise our voice to indicate that the loss of human lives is unacceptable. As a union, we demand safety conditions that allow us to carry out our work with dignity and respect for life,” reads AIMMGM’s letter.

What Happened at Concordia?

Canada-based mining firm Vizsla Silver confirmed on Feb. 9, 2026, that it received reports from families indicating that several of the abducted workers have been found dead. The individuals were part of a group of 10 employees taken last month from the company’s Panuco project site. 

While the company awaits formal confirmation from Mexican authorities to provide further updates, the Sinaloa state prosecutor’s office and the federal Attorney General’s Office (FGR) said they have been conducting an extensive search. “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. Our focus remains on the safe recovery of those who remain missing and on supporting all affected families and our people during this incredibly difficult time,” said Michael Konnert, President and CEO, Vizsla Silver.

The abduction occurred during the early hours of Jan. 23, 2026, when a group of armed men entered staff accommodations in the La Clementina housing complex in Concordia. The victims, who included engineers, technical personnel, and security guards, were taken while traveling to the mine site located approximately 15km away. Following the incident, Vizsla Silver suspended certain activities at the Panuco project as a precautionary measure. 

During Feb. 9, 2025’s morning press conference, President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed that the Mexican government’s security cabinet has been on high alert since the kidnapping was announced. She noted that detainees in the case provided the information that led to the recent findings. "Everything is being investigated, and we are in contact with the mining company. From the beginning, I asked the Minister of the Interior to be in contact with the families along with the state government. We deeply regret what happened; we stand with the families and hope that such a situation never happens again," Sheinbaum stated.

To date, four suspects have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the disappearances, which, according to Sheinbaum, led to the recent findings. “There are detainees in this case, and the detainees themselves provided the information that was later obtained.  So everything is being investigated, and we are in contact with the mining company,” she added.

Minister of Security Omar García Harfuch further clarified that five of the 10 workers have been identified. He stated that the detainees are linked to the Los Chapitos cell of the Sinaloa Cartel, who claimed the miners were abducted after being mistaken for members of a rival criminal organization, as reported by MBN.

Security: A Constant Risk for Miners

According to the Fraser Institute 2024 data, while Mexico’s overall Investment Attractiveness Index saw a recovery, rising to 49th place globally from its 14-year low in 2023, physical safety remains a critical deterrent. In the policy category of security, Mexico ranks 81st out of 82 global jurisdictions. This near-bottom ranking highlights a persistent environment where workers and technical personnel are exposed to high personal risk from criminal activity, including abduction and extortion.

The remote location of mining operations makes the sector a prime target for insecurity, as personnel must often operate in zones far from urban centers. According to CAMIMEX, the industry faces a wide array of criminal threats, ranging from theft at mining facilities to the hijacking of material in transit, all of which compromise both property and the safety of individuals. These crimes carry a significant financial burden, estimated to represent up to 5% of total operating costs and up to 7% in product losses.

To address this crisis, the industry is calling for the establishment of permanent working groups with security authorities to streamline the reporting process and develop robust prevention strategies that can reduce the high incidence of crime affecting the sector’s competitiveness.

Other Mining Associations Call for Security

CAMIMEX issued an urgent appeal for the protection of the miners. In a formal statement, the organization rejected any accusation of a link between formal mining and organized crime, emphasizing that the sector and its stakeholders are victims of the current climate of insecurity. The association underscored that violence and impunity cannot be normalized or accepted as part of the operating environment for any productive sector in the country. "Formal mining, which brings economic well-being and social development to more than 696 communities in the country, categorically rejects any accusation of a link with organized crime; on the contrary, we have been victims of it, miners, workers, community residents, journalists, and contractors alike. We therefore make a new call to improve security conditions in mining regions,” reads CAMIMEX’s statement.

Similarly, the Sinaloa Mining Cluster (CLUMISIN) demanded that justice transcend simple statistics and result in effective resolution and localization of workers who remain missing. The cluster urged the government to guarantee legal certainty and respect for human dignity in all mining regions. "We will continue to accompany the families and collaborate with the authorities until we have answers, justice, and effective security guarantees for those who work with dignity in the country's mining regions. We reaffirm our urgent call for this case not to go unpunished and for action to be taken with the full force of the State to guarantee security, legality, and respect for human dignity,” reads CLUMISIN’s statement.