Suspect arrested in disappearance of 10 Sinaloa miners
Original reporting: Tribuna Sonora
What happened
Federal authorities are investigating whether a man identified as Mauricio “N” took part in the disappearance of 10 mine workers in Concordia. He was turned over to federal prosecutors in Culiacán.
Reporting and context
Mexican soldiers and National Guard personnel arrested a man identified as Mauricio “N” on Nov. 8 in Sinaloa as part of the investigation into the disappearance of 10 miners in Concordia. According to Tribuna Sonora, federal authorities are investigating whether the man, known as “El Wicho” and “El Chigüil,” took part in abducting the workers.
Tribuna Sonora reported that federal investigators suspect Mauricio worked for the Los Chapitos faction under Óscar “N,” known as “El Casco” or “El 81.” Authorities identify Óscar as the faction’s local boss in Concordia and link him to drug distribution in the region.
The operation drew on military intelligence and was coordinated with the National Intelligence Center. Security forces seized two firearms, two magazines, 87 cartridges and a vehicle. They turned Mauricio over to the federal Attorney General’s Office in Culiacán, where prosecutors will determine his legal status.
In February, federal Security Secretary Omar García Harfuch announced that four people had been arrested over the disappearance. Authorities said then that statements gathered during the investigation suggested the miners had been mistaken for members of a rival group. Tribuna Sonora said authorities had yet to detail what evidence connects Mauricio to the workers’ disappearance.