Nearly three weeks after the kidnapping of 10 mine workers in Concordia, Sinaloa, the search continues for five of the still-missing workers, while five others have been identified in clandestine graves in El Verde.
While authorities have suggested the possibility that the miners were “mistaken” by Los Chapitos for members of La Mayiza, and while other theories about extortion have gained traction, miners working for the Viszla Silver company broke their silence and revealed what they believe to be the motive behind the tragedy.
In a radio interview with Reporte 100 Sonora, two miners who worked in the area—identified as “José” and “Juan” to protect their identities—broke their silence about the situation at the mine prior to their colleagues’ disappearance.
They recounted that, long before the attack, they and other contractors had received direct warnings from criminal groups to leave the region: “We had some encounters with criminal groups… they literally told us: ‘Please leave, we can’t guarantee your safety.’ The criminal groups were the ones who told us that. The company really didn’t show any consideration,” one of the interviewees said.
