Bodies of kidnapped mining workers discovered in Mexico mass grave

Three employees of the Vizsla Silver Corp have been found dead in Mexico, two weeks after they were kidnapped from a job site. On Monday, Michael Konnert, President and CEO of Vizsla confirmed the company had been made aware of the deaths by family members of the deceased.

“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 in a statement. “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.”

In an interview with the CBC , Jaime Castañeda said he identified one of the victims as his brother, José Manuel Castañeda Hernández.

“In truth, this has been very painful to be here, in a place where we don’t want to be,” Castañeda said. “It’s so hard to see … how they suffer. There’s no justice with what’s happening.”

Two other men have been identified by a family member and a state politician, the CBC reports. The bodies were found by federal authorities near a rural village called El Verde. The men were found in what local media described as a “mass grave.”

In total, 10 employees of the Vancouver-based mining company were kidnapped on Jan. 23 from a job site near Concordia. The mass grave was discovered roughly 15 kilometers north of Concordia. It is unclear if the bodies of the other missing employees have been found, as only the three men have been identified so far.

Castañeda said he met with at least seven other families who were at federal attorney general’s local headquarters to identify bodies taken from the site.

It is believed the kidnappings are part of an ongoing war between factions in the infamous Sinaloa Cartel. According to the CBC, Mexico’s Security and Civilian Protection Secretary Omar Harfuch has publicly suspected that a cell with the Los Chapitos faction is behind the kidnappings.