A spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada, whose headquarters are pictured in Ottawa on Monday, said the federal government is not aware of any Canadian citizens taken captive at the Vizsla Silver mine.PATRICK DOYLE/The Canadian Press
Vizsla Silver Corp. VZLA-T said 10 workers have been abducted from its mining project in the Mexican state of Sinaloa, a region that has been gripped by cartel violence.
In a statement on its website, Vancouver-based Vizsla said local authorities have been notified of the situation and that the company’s security response and crisis management teams “are actively engaged.”
Vizsla did not provide the nationalities of those taken captive at the site, near the city of Concordia. It said some activities at the Panuco Silver-Gold project, located in Western Sinaloa, have been suspended as a precaution. It is Vizsla Silver’s only project, according to its website.
In an e-mail, the company said it had no other details to provide.
“Focusing on the safety and safe release of our people is the absolute priority,” Vizsla said.
Global Affairs Canada said it is monitoring the situation closely. The Canadian embassy in Mexico is in touch with Mexican authorities, Global Affairs spokesperson Thida Ith said. “At this time, we are not aware of any Canadian citizens impacted by this incident.”
The Sinaloa Attorney-General’s Office said in a statement on its website that it received a 911 call from the mining company’s legal representative on Jan. 24. It is investigating the disappearance of the 10 people by private individuals, it said.
The Attorney-General’s office said it has co-ordinated with state and federal authorities, including the State Search Commission and the Ministry of National Defence.
As part of the operation, a search warrant was executed on Jan. 27, the Attorney-General’s Office said, without providing details.