The recent disappearance of Carlos Emilio Galván Valenzuela in Mazatlán has rekindled the mobilization of family members and groups searching for people from Durango, who are demanding that authorities in Sinaloa and Durango expedite the review of pending cases and strengthen search efforts in southern Sinaloa.
The Searching for Emilio Collective, which currently serves as a liaison between affected families and legal institutions, has eight active investigation files related to missing Durango residents in Mazatlán, Rosario, Las Loberas, and other towns in southern Sinaloa. However, they estimate that the actual number could be up to ten times higher, due to cases that have not yet been formally reported to the Attorney General’s Office.
During a meeting held on Monday with personnel from the Sinaloa State Attorney General’s Office (FGE), members of the collective requested greater speed in the review of cases that have remained unresolved for months.
Given the situation, the group’s president, Miriam Báez, told local media that the meeting had a positive response, but stressed the need for ongoing follow-up.
“The main request was to review files that haven’t been reviewed for some time. We received good attention, but we must insist on follow-up,” Báez said, according to statements reported by Noroeste.
The case of Carlos Emilio Galván Valenzuela, a young man who disappeared in the early hours of October 5 after being last seen at the Valentinos Terrace in Mazatlán’s Golden Zone, has garnered widespread public and media attention.
They denounce that the authorities are doing nothing to resolve the case
For her part, Carlos Emilio’s mother, Brenda María Valenzuela Gil, denounced that so far there has been no progress on the part of authorities in either state or access to the recordings from the establishment where he was last seen.
The outrage stemming from the case sparked a massive demonstration in the city of Durango, where hundreds of people marched under slogans such as “Durango saw him grow up, Sinaloa took him from us” and “We want the videos.”
During the rally in front of the cathedral, attendees demanded justice with chants of “They left alive, we want them back alive!” and “We will not rest until we find them!”
Although Carlos Emilio’s case is not formally part of the Searching for Emilio Collective’s files (since his parents are directly handling the case), the organization reiterated its support for all families facing the same situation.
“We know that the desperation and anguish are terrifying; it’s a nightmare no one expects to experience,” Báez told Luz Noticias, emphasizing the need to strengthen the response capacity of the disappearances office in Mazatlán.
According to information published by El Sol de Durango, at least seven people from the state disappeared in Mazatlán between October 2024 and October 2025, although groups estimate the number could be significantly higher.
The families assert that their priority is to find their loved ones, “whether alive or dead,” and have expressed their determination to continue the protests until they receive concrete answers.
“We have to recover them; what we want is to recover our loved one, whether alive or dead,” protesters stated during the press conference.
The disappearance of Carlos Emilio, a young man from Durango whose last contact was reported on October 5 in Mazatlán, has led authorities in Sinaloa and Durango to coordinate efforts to intensify the search, as confirmed by Governor Rubén Rocha Moya during his recent visit to the port.
The mayor affirmed that the attorney general’s offices of both states are working together, providing relevant information on the case and maintaining close contact with the various law enforcement agencies.
“The case is under investigation. The Sinaloa Attorney General’s Office and the Durango Attorney General’s Office are working together, conducting the necessary investigations and providing information on the case,” the state leader said in an interview with local media.
Source: infobae
