The discovery of five bodies near Panuco and the disappearance of thousands raise questions about President Sheinbaum’s strategy to contain the Sinaloa Cartel’s internal war
CONCORDIA, Mexico – The brutal abduction of 10 mine workers in the mountains of Sinaloa has shattered the fragile sense of security in the region and cast doubt on the Mexican government’s claims of improving public safety.
The employees of the Canadian-owned Vizsla Silver Corp. were taken from their site near the town of Panuco in late January. While five bodies have been located and identified, the remaining five await confirmation. The incident has not only terrorized local communities but has also ignited a broader debate about President Claudia Sheinbaum’s strategy to curb cartel violence.
When Sheinbaum took office in October 2024, Sinaloa was already spiraling into chaos following the abduction of cartel leader Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, allegedly by a son of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. The betrayal sparked an all-out war between the faction loyal to Zambada and the “Chapitos,” the sons of El Chapo. What began as urban warfare in the state capital, Culiacan, has now metastasized across the entire state, engulfing rural communities in the crossfire.
“The government’s narrative that they are gradually gaining control is being demolished by episodes like this,” said security analyst David Saucedo. He argues that the administration’s attempt to “manage the conflict” has inadvertently forced residents to align with one of the two warring factions, deepening the instability.
Troops Arrive, but Fear Remains
Following the abductions, Mexico’s Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch personally coordinated a large-scale search operation, deploying troops by air and land. The effort led to several arrests and the discovery of clandestine graves. Authorities claim the suspects belong to the “Chapitos” faction and mistakenly believed the mine workers were members of the rival Zambada gang.
However, the heightened security presence has done little to restore peace of mind for the residents of remote villages like Chirimoyos and El Verde. Many have fled; others, according to local accounts, were “invited” to leave by armed groups.
“We’ve practically been abandoned,” said Roque Vargas, a human rights activist working with displaced families. He fears that organized crime groups will simply return once the military presence diminishes, leaving civilians once again vulnerable to both cartel violence and potential aggression from security forces.
A Hollow Security Pledge
The crisis comes at a politically sensitive time for President Sheinbaum, who has staked her reputation on a tough stance against cartels. She sent 10,000 National Guard troops to the northern border to appease US concerns over fentanyl trafficking and recently touted a drop in national homicide rates as proof that her strategy is working.
Yet in Sinaloa, the reality on the ground tells a different story. Mines like Vizsla Silver, avocado groves, and fuel pipelines have long been targets for cartel extortion. While the government claims there are no reports that Vizsla was being extorted, the company had already paused operations in April 2024 due to security concerns.
The violence extends far beyond the mine workers. In recent months, Mexican tourists have been abducted from bars in Mazatlan, businessmen have vanished, and entire communities have been cut off from basic services. In the mountains, teachers and doctors no longer visit, and public transportation has ceased after drivers disappeared.
The Collective Search for Answers
In the community of El Verde, Marisela Carrizales stands vigil beside banners displaying photographs of the missing. She has been searching for her son, Alejandro, for five and a half years. She is one of thousands of Mexicans who have formed search collectives to do the work the state cannot or will not do.
“We have information that there are a lot more graves here,” she said, standing near a site where authorities recently discovered 10 bodies. “We have to come to look for them.”
As authorities continue to excavate clandestine graves, the gap between the government’s security narrative and the lived experience of Sinaloa’s citizens grows ever wider. For families like Carrizales’, the promise of a safer Mexico remains a distant hope.
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