In response to the request made to President Andrés Manuel López Obrador about finding Carlos Tomás Aranda Burgoin in British Columbia, Canada, the Foreign Ministry reports that:

  • The Embassy of Mexico in Canada and the Consulate General in Vancouver have been in contact with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in British Columbia, which is in charge of rescue missions in the area.
  • Mexico’s ambassador to Canada, Carlos Manuel Joaquin Gonzalez, has spoken with Mr. Octavio Aranda Ortega, Carlos' father, about the actions that have been taken in collaboration with the authorities.
  • The Director General of Consular Protection and Strategic Planning, Vanessa Calva Ruiz, met today with Carlos' parents to follow up on the case.

Since Carlos Tomás Aranda Burgoin went missing from Osoyoos, in British Columbia, Canada, on July 7, 2023, personnel from the Consulate General of Mexico in Vancouver and the Foreign Ministry’s area for consular protection and strategic planning have provided assistance and protection.

The consulate contacted the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in British Columbia, the authority in charge of rescue missions, as soon as it learned about the case. Several searches have been carried out in the area in collaboration with the Oliver/Osoyoos Search & Rescue volunteer organization. Drones, mounted police, volunteer groups, canine teams and sophisticated topographic equipment have been used.

On July 10, the Foreign Ministry's consular protection staff met with Octavio Aranda Ortega and Josué Aranda Burgoin, Carlos' father and brother, to discuss the case, and to renew Mr. Aranda Ortega's passport so that he could travel to Canada.

On July 14, authorities toured the search area accompanied by members of Carlos' family, and spoke with the officers in charge of the investigation, including the last officer to see him. In addition, consular personnel visited the last places where Carlos was seen, and the last people to see him.

The consulate requested the assistance of the Center for Information and Assistance for Mexicans (CIAM) to determine if Carlos was in the databases of the U.S. immigration authorities, without result. The consulate also arranged a conference call between Carlos' father and legal counsel Octavio Zertuche to address Mr. Aranda’s questions and concerns about the Canadian legal system and the investigation process in that country. Interviews with local media have also been arranged to publicize the search efforts.

The non-profit organization MOSAIC was contacted to help cover Mr. Aranda’s expenses for accommodations and food, in coordination and cooperation with Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). There is ongoing communication with Carlos’ family members and with partner organizations in the Osoyos region, namely MOSAIC, Lower Simikameen Services Society and KCR Community Resources, which have accompanied the case.

The rest of the consular network in Canada, and the consulate in Seattle, which is located in the border area between the U.S. and Canada, have been asked to publicize the Interpol Yellow Notice that has been sent out, in addition to other information that will help with the search. Foreign Secretary Alicia Bárcena has instructed Director General Calva Ruiz to continue the direct contact and communication with Carlos' family, and to continue coordinating the consular actions to locate him.

The Government of Mexico, through the Embassy of Mexico in Canada, the Consulate General in Vancouver and the Directorate-General for Consular Protection, will continue to accompany Carlos' family and coordinate with the authorities and other groups involved in the search efforts and support for the family.


https://www.interpol.int/en/How-we-work/Notices/Yellow-Notices/View-Yellow-Notices#2023-49728