Mining Extortion in Sinaloa Uncovers Criminal War in Concordia

Mining extortion in Sinaloa has once again exposed the degree of territorial control exercised by criminal groups in strategic regions of the country. In Concordia, in the south of the state, the Canadian mining company Vizsla Silver was allegedly forced for months to pay monthly fees of up to 200,000 pesos to operate, until the demands escalated to an unsustainable point: handing over half of its production.

The revelation was made by investigative journalist María Idalia Gómez and is directly connected to one of the most serious recent episodes in the region: the kidnapping and murder of mining workers amidst the internal war within the Sinaloa Cartel.

Concordia, a territory marked by violence

During her appearance on Aristegui en Vivo, María Idalia Gómez explained that the case cannot be understood as an isolated incident. Concordia is a strategic area controlled by the Los Chapitos faction, specifically by Óscar Luciano Martínez Larios, alias “El Casco,” and his brother Gabriel Nicolás.

According to the investigation, the Vizsla Silver mining company had to pay a fixed monthly fee to extract and transport the ore out of the territory. This mining extortion scheme in Sinaloa reportedly worked for a time, until the dispute between Los Chapitos and the faction of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada generated a financial urgency within the criminal group.

When extortion becomes unsustainable

The breaking point came when the extortionists demanded not only money, but half of the mine’s production. For the company, accepting this condition meant losing operational and legal viability, so it refused.

The response was brutal. At least 10 mining workers were kidnapped in retaliation. Days later, clandestine graves with human remains began to appear in southern Sinaloa, confirming the worst-case scenario.

Ignored precedents and warning signs

The Vizsla Silver case didn’t arise out of nowhere. In April 2025, the company had already announced the temporary suspension of field work on the Pánuco project due to adverse security conditions. The statement warned of a hostile environment, which has now been confirmed with deadly consequences.

According to security experts, mining-related extortion in Sinaloa is part of a broader pattern. It’s not just about mining, but about a diversification of criminal activities that includes agribusiness, transportation, and local commerce.

The modus operandi of “El Casco”

María Idalia Gómez emphasized that this scheme had already been implemented in other mines, such as La Rastra. The control wasn’t established overnight, but through networks of complicity and prolonged institutional neglect.

The journalist pointed out that impunity persists because municipal, state, and federal authorities ceased to have an effective presence in the area, allowing criminal groups to operate with almost absolute control.

International pressure and criminal reaction

Another key element is the international context. The United States has intensified land, sea, and air blockades to combat drug trafficking and money laundering. This pressure has reportedly reduced other sources of income for organized crime.

In response, criminal groups increased extortion, turning legal activities such as mining into a priority source of funding, as well as demanding protection money from sectors like the avocado industry.

Discovery of miners in clandestine graves

On February 8, authorities and search teams confirmed the discovery of human remains in a clandestine grave. At least three of the kidnapped miners have been identified.

Among them are José Ángel Hernández Vélez, originally from Zacatecas; the geologist José Manuel Castañeda Hernández; and Ignacio Aurelio Salazar Flores, whose death was confirmed by educational and legislative authorities.

To date, there is no detailed official report from the authorities, which has led to demands from groups like Sabuesos Guerreras, who are calling for transparency and truth.

A case that exposes institutional fragility

Mining extortion in Sinaloa not only highlights criminal violence but also the vulnerability of strategic industries to armed groups. The Concordia case thus becomes a symbol of how the internal war among drug cartels has direct effects on workers, businesses, and entire communities.

While investigations and international pressure continue, the message is clear: when crime controls the territory, no economic activity is safe. Mining extortion in Sinaloa is no longer a warning; it is a documented reality with victims.

Source: La Verdad Noticias