Thirty-seven days after the disappearance of Carlos Emilio Galván Valenzuela in Mazatlán, Sinaloa, authorities have not made significant progress in the investigation. However, the case of the young man from Durango points to Víctor Manuel Barraza Pablos, alias “El 40,” plaza boss for Los Chapitos, as the main suspect.
According to information revealed by journalist Luis Chaparro on his program Pie de Nota, sources indicate that “El 40” controls Mazatlán’s nightlife, bars, and restaurants.
Among these establishments is Terraza Valentino, the place where Carlos Emilio disappeared in the early morning of October 5, 2025. The establishment is owned by Ricardo Velarde Cárdenas, the former Secretary of Economy of Sinaloa, who resigned a few days ago after a search of the premises.
According to Pie de Nota’s investigation, the group led by “El 40” is known for carrying out kidnappings and forced disappearances under two schemes: monopolizing the illegal sale of vapes and forcibly recruiting young people to bolster the ranks of the criminal group, which is currently in conflict with the La Mayiza faction.
According to the testimony of his mother, Brenda Valenzuela, collected by Pie de Nota, on the day of his disappearance, Carlos Emilio said he was going to the bathroom around 2:30 a.m. and never returned to the table.
One of his cousins, noticing that time was passing, decided to look for him and headed toward the restrooms, where a security guard stopped her, questioning her presence.
The young woman replied that she was looking for her cousin, but the guard insisted she leave the area and claimed there was no one else in the bathroom. Even so, before leaving, she caught a partial glimpse of someone’s shoes from the doorway, though they didn’t match Carlos Emilio’s.
After returning to the table and not finding him, his cousin went from table to table asking around the restaurant. She went outside to look for any clues and tried to re-enter, but was turned away for over half an hour by security personnel with various excuses.
Unable to locate him either inside or outside the establishment, both cousins paid the bill and left. From that moment on, the family’s search continued throughout the early morning hours, repeatedly calling the young man’s cell phone, which rang but went unanswered on the first attempts.
From the early hours of October 5th, the family visited hospitals and municipal police stations, considering the possibility of an arrest or accident. When they went to the police station, they were told they had to wait at least 24 hours before filing a missing person report. The official report was filed on Monday.
Despite the time that has passed, the authorities have not offered any clarity regarding the progress of the investigation. The family has remained in Mazatlán since the first day, dedicating daily time to demanding answers. The mother denounces the lack of results and the repetition of the same official arguments regarding ongoing proceedings.
It should be noted that the search carried out by the Sinaloa State Attorney General’s Office (FGE) at the establishment took place 20 days after the disappearance, and to date, they have received no answers. According to Brenda Valenzuela, they have not received any formal report of the search, nor any proof that the device containing the recordings was sent for analysis.
