Félix Castañeda, member of Community Action Board Accion Comunal de la Vereda Chaparral and delegate for the community of Coca, Poppy, and Marijuana growers known as Coccam, was found dead after having been missing, in Cantagallo, Colombia.

Félix worked to defend the rights of farmers and, in particular, on causes such as land restitution and environmental protection.

Sources in the region state that the social leader had left his property at the beginning of the week and then the following Thursday Felix’s body was found with bullet holes.

Félix’s death comes shortly after the death of another social leader who was killed in a similar manner, causing increasing concern for other members of Coccam, especially as the region is a known corridor for the armed groups and narco cartels. Human Rights group in southern Bolivar confirm that other similar social leaders have been threatened despite raising their concerns to the national level.