Torex workers missing in apparent abduction

Workers from Canadian mining company Torex Gold went missing this weekend, apparently abducted by local gangs in Mexico's Guerrero state.

Twelve people disappeared from near Torex's Morelos gold property, which includes the El Limón-Guajes project that is currently under construction and the Media Luna project, which is at an advanced stage of exploration. Some reports put the figure at 18 and said 10 had been released.

Local press reported the supposed abduction was the work of a criminal group called La Familia.

Of the 12 missing, one was working as a laborer for Torex, while three others were working for one of the company's contractors, it said in a press release.

Torex stopped all work in the area on Saturday (Feb 7) and through the night to give authorities "the opportunity to conduct its operations without the complexity of project-generated road traffic," the release said.

Torex has specified previously that community challenges are an issue in the area, and has a US$47mn contingency for its US$800mn El Limón-Guajes projects, partly due to social unrest in the state, where authorities are investigating the disappearance of 43 students last year.

The unrest has impacted the willingness of construction contractors and their employees to come to the state when there is sufficient work elsewhere, Torex said.