Three young men from Culiacán were reported missing since Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Mazatlán, one of Sinaloa’s main tourist destinations. The State Attorney General’s Office (FGE) is investigating the case as an illegal deprivation of liberty in a tourist area of the port.
With these incidents, six young tourists have disappeared so far this April, all linked to visits to or travel from the coastal city.
The young men who disappeared on Saturday were identified as Erick Mijali Carrillo Villegas, Efraín Ramírez Ruiz, and Alfonso Arredondo Zazueta, all between 21 and 22 years old.
According to their relatives and information provided by search groups, the three friends were in the port to spend Easter weekend. They were last seen around 12:20 p.m., as they were heading to breakfast in the La Marina area, along Carlos Canseco Avenue.
Minutes later, a black Ford Mustang was located with bullet holes on Paseo del Atlántico Avenue, a few meters from a roundabout where the Red Deer monument is located, one of the area’s busiest tourist spots. The vehicle was abandoned and showed no visible traces of blood. The Prosecutor’s Office ruled out an armed attack and confirmed to the families that the young men were illegally deprived of their liberty.
Since then, there has been no contact with the three young men, and no reports of any injured people being admitted to hospitals in the city have been made. The Sinaloa State Commission for the Search for Persons activated the location records on April 20, and the Sabuesos Guerreras A.C. collective joined in the public dissemination of the case.
Twelve days earlier, on April 7, three other young men disappeared after spending a weekend in Mazatlán. They were brothers Carlos Enrique and Santiago Sánchez Rodríguez, and their friend José Isaías García Rosey, originally from San Juan del Río, Querétaro.
The three traveled to the port to celebrate one of their birthdays and disappeared as they began their return trip to their home state, along the highway that connects Mazatlán with the municipality of Concordia.
The last communication with their families was between 5:57 p.m. and 7:22 p.m., when their phones lost signal. The satellite location first indicated Concordia and then the town of Copala, before finally returning to Concordia and losing all connection. Since then, they have not been heard from.
Who are the missing?
Erick Mijali Carrillo Villegas, 22, was last seen in the La Marina neighborhood. He is approximately 1.80 meters tall, has a stocky build, fair complexion, medium-sized light brown eyes, and short, wavy, dark brown hair. His distinguishing features include a scar on his right cheekbone, another surgical scar on his abdomen, and a tattoo of a clover on his right back. That day, he was wearing black On Cloud sneakers, a gold Fossil watch, and a black and white cap with a shark motif. His official information is RZS-0163-2025.
Efraín Ramírez Ruiz, also 22, is 1.75 meters tall, has fair complexion, a medium build, large light brown eyes, and wavy, dark brown hair. He has no visible tattoos or scars. He was wearing a blue and black plaid Blue Berry shirt, black American Eagle jeans, black Lacoste sneakers, a silver watch, a gemstone bracelet, and a pendant with the New York logo. Its official file is RZS-0164-2025.
Alfonso Arredondo Zazueta, 21, is approximately 1.78 meters tall, has light brown skin, and a medium build. His eyes are light brown, his hair is short and wavy, and he has a visible mole on his right cheek. He has no tattoos. At the time of his disappearance, he was wearing a black shirt, black jeans, black and white Michael Jordan sneakers, a gold chain with a Saint Jude Thaddeus pendant, a gold ring, and a silver watch with a black strap. His file number is RZS-0165-2025.
Three young men from Querétaro have also been missing since April 7. They are:
José Isaías García Rosey, 23, is 1.70 meters tall, has dark skin, a stocky build, an oval face, black eyes, wavy hair, and a visible mole on his face near his nose. He has no tattoos. The corresponding file number is RZS-0152-2025.
Santiago Sánchez Rodríguez, 18, is approximately 1.70 meters tall, has a white complexion, a round face, light brown eyes, and straight hair. He has visible freckles and a tattoo of Saint Jude Thaddeus on his left forearm. His police record was issued under file number RZS-0153-2025.
Carlos Enrique Sánchez Rodríguez, 28, is 1.90 meters tall, has a white complexion, a stocky build, shaved hair, and several tattoos: a warrior with a sword, a Pegasus-style horse with half a face, a skull with a Viking helmet, an “i,” a clown, and the word “Sánchez” on his left arm. His police record is RZS-0154-2025.
No progress in the investigation and an increase in disappearances
The Sinaloa State Attorney General’s Office has two open investigation files for both cases. Institutional search mechanisms have been activated in both cases, but so far, no official progress or clues have been reported regarding the whereabouts of the six young men.
The Sabuesos Guerreras A.C. collective has stepped up its outreach on social media and in the media and called on the public to provide any information that may contribute to locating the young men alive. The available contact lines are 667 157 1930 (Sabuesos Guerreras), (669) 327 8424 (Sinaloa State Commission for the Search for Persons), email [email protected], and emergency number 911.
According to figures from the State Public Security Council, 1,616 investigations into missing persons were opened in Sinaloa in 2024, none of which have been resolved.
The April disappearances—linked to tourist areas and stretches of highway frequented by visitors—reflect a pattern that worries families, search groups, and civil organizations. Meanwhile, the six young people remain missing.
Source: infobae
