CULIACÁN, Sinaloa, Mexico — Investigations following the violent abduction and subsequent killing of ten mining company employees in southern Sinaloa led federal and state authorities to capture two key suspects linked to the criminal faction identified as "Los Menores", an enforcement wing operating under the direction of "Los Chapitos".
The law enforcement action took place during targeted ground operations on Tuesday, September 8, in the municipality of Concordia. Elements from the Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional (SEDENA), the Secretaría de Seguridad y Protección Ciudadana, and local state police unit forces intercepted and apprehended two men identified as Ángel Gabriel “N”, known by the alias “El Tronco”, alongside Milton Yair “N”.
According to official security reports, "Los Menores" serves as an alternate designation used by federal authorities to refer to the faction led by the sons of Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán. This specialized cell functions primarily as an armed enforcement branch for "Los Chapitos", conducting territorial surveillance, armed patrols, and controlling strategic corridors across the state for the Sinaloa Cartel.
Within the leadership hierarchy of this specific faction, intelligence files highlight Óscar Luciano Martínez Larios, also known as “El Casco”, as a prominent plaza chief overseeing illegal operations in the municipalities of Rosario and Concordia, the exact zone where the attack against the corporate staff transpired.
The initial incident occurred during the early morning hours of January 23, 2026, in the municipality of Concordia, Sinaloa. An armed command forcefully broke into a residential property within the La Clementina neighborhood, a location leased by the firm Canam/Vizsla Silver Corp to accommodate technical and operational personnel assigned to the Panuco Project.
During the raid, the perpetrators unlawfully deprived ten workers of their freedom, including engineers, geologists, field supervisors, and security guards. Following weeks of intense search efforts, the mining firm formally confirmed on February 9, 2026, that several of the abducted employees were found deceased in the region.
Following their apprehension in Concordia, both suspects, along with seized weaponry and tactical gear, were formally transferred and placed under the jurisdiction of the Fiscalía General de la República at its regional headquarters in Culiacán, Sinaloa, where official legal proceedings and criminal inquiries remain underway to fully resolve the case.
Seized Material and Suspects Handed Over:
- Ángel Gabriel “N”, alias “El Tronco”
- Milton Yair “N”
- High-caliber firearms and tactical gear secured during ground operations
Local community members and security analysts noted that targeted law enforcement activities in the region aim to restore stability to rural mining districts that have faced heightened criminal pressure over recent months.
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