Families of Vizsla Silver Workers Kidnapped Near Mazatlán Plan RCMP Complaint Against the Canadian Miner, Saying Staff Were Told to Wear Yellow Vests So Gunmen Would Know Them
The families of Vizsla Silver workers kidnapped in Concordia, Sinaloa, about 35 kilometres east of Mazatlán, plan to file a complaint with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) against the Vancouver-based mining company, their lawyer told CBC News in a report published Oct. 1, 2026. Lawyer Odracir Ricardo Espinoza represents the families of seven of the 10 workers seized on Jan. 23. He said the RCMP should look into whether the company’s on-site management had “some level of co-ordination” with the armed group that controlled the area. No authority has made such a finding.
The vests
Espinoza said the families’ testimony indicates that all Vizsla Silver workers were told to wear a specific colour of vest so the crime group in control of the area would recognize them as company staff. “Someone had to tell them, ‘Put that on so we don’t do anything to you,'” he told CBC. Two former workers previously told CBC that managers had them switch from orange to yellow vests and helmets so patrolling gunmen would know them.
Vizsla Silver trades on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges. Espinoza said the families also plan to take the issue to U.S. authorities.
What happened in Concordia
Armed men stormed the company’s worker compound early on Jan. 23, CBC reported. Two weeks later, the bodies of nine workers were found in clandestine graves in El Verde, about 19 kilometres from Concordia. The 10th worker is still missing: Francisco Antonio Esparza Yáñez, who handled community relations.
Mexican authorities have said a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel carried out the kidnapping. According to CBC, a local boss aligned with La Chapiza (Los Chapitos), Gabriel Nicolás Martínez Larios, alias “El Gabito” or “El 80,” was arrested in June in connection with the case. Thirteen more members of a La Chapiza cell tied to the case were arrested earlier this month.
What the families want, and the company’s answer
The families want Vizsla Silver to give investigators its security camera footage, vehicle GPS data, company phones and internal communications, and want testimony from executives including the CEO. They say Mexico’s federal Attorney General’s Office has not compelled the company to hand these over, and plan to seek a court order if it does not.
In a statement to CBC, Vizsla Silver said it “continues to co-operate fully” with Mexican authorities and has provided all requested information. The federal Attorney General’s Office did not respond to CBC. For travel context, see our Mazatlán safety page.
Sources
- CBC News (Jorge Barrera), “Families of Canadian mining firm workers kidnapped in Mexico plan to file RCMP complaint,” Oct. 1, 2026
- Photos: Heriberto Luzanilla via CBC News
Reported Oct. 1, 2026, from CBC News’ report published the same day. The claims about vests and co-ordination with an armed group come from the families, their lawyer and former workers. No authority has ruled on them.