Environmental defender kidnapped in Michoacán, sparking renewed fear among activists

In the remote Los Azufres area of Michoacán, José Luis Silva Andrade disappeared on July 15 after leaving his Agua Fría home to investigate reports of illegal loggers. Within a day, a man linked to a criminal organization visited his family, claiming Silva Andrade was held and that they must negotiate with the group’s leader. Silva Andrade’s brother, Rolando, a veteran forest defender, has previously faced threats and recently fled with his family for safety.

NGOs such as Front Line Defenders, Serapaz, and Prodedh have documented the kidnapping as an enforced disappearance and highlighted a series of earlier threats against the community. Formal complaints have been lodged with the Specialized Prosecutor’s Offices for Human Rights and Organized Crime, yet officials have not provided updates on the investigation. The state prosecutor’s office says the case is being handled by the Attorney General’s Office, the National Victim Assistance Commission, the National Search Commission, and the Secretariat of the Interior, which are all assisting in the search effort.