Miners march in Zacatecas

Miners, students and relatives staged a march in Zacatecas to protest the abduction and killing of workers from a silver mine operated by Canada’s Vizsla Silver Corp, demanding justice and stronger protection for mining communities. Protesters, many wearing helmets and carrying photos of the slain, paraded to the municipal palace with banners denouncing extortion and calling for peace and security. Organizers said the demonstration was a mournful call for action rather than a political confrontation.

Authorities recovered 10 bodies in Concordia, Sinaloa, five of which have been identified; forensic teams continue work to identify the remaining victims. Two of the deceased—Jose Ángel Hernández Vélez and Ignacio Aurelio Salazar Flores—were from Zacatecas and have been buried locally. Federal officials say the group had been kidnapped in January from the Vizsla-operated mine in territory allegedly controlled by the Chapitos, a Sinaloa cartel faction led by the sons of jailed kingpin Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán. Investigators have suggested the victims may have been mistaken for members of a rival criminal group, following suspect interrogations, but motives remain under review.

Union leaders and family members described the victims as hardworking breadwinners and urged authorities to prevent miners from facing criminal threats beyond the hazards of their jobs. The largely peaceful march included moments of silence and calls for decisive action; police monitored the route to avert clashes. Authorities pledged to coordinate security forces and temporarily reinforce patrols around mining areas, while unions and human-rights groups pressed for long-term strategies addressing both public safety and the economic vulnerabilities of extractive communities.

The killings have intensified concern about the spread of organized-crime violence into the mining sector, where remote operations are vulnerable to extortion, territorial disputes and kidnappings. Industry representatives warned that ongoing insecurity can disrupt operations and deter investment, but participants emphasized the immediate need to protect lives. As investigations continue, demonstrators warned further mobilization could follow if officials fail to deliver transparent progress and concrete safety measures for workers.