Fernando Cerimedo arrested in Bolivia amid disinformation scrutiny

Argentinian political consultant Fernando Cerimedo, known as the ‘King of Trolls,’ was detained at Viru Viru International Airport in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, on August 18. His arrest follows allegations regarding his role in the attempted femicide of his former partner, Nadia Beller.

Cerimedo is a prominent figure in Latin American politics, having worked on campaigns for several far-right leaders, including Javier Milei in Argentina, Luis Arce in Bolivia, Xiomara Castro in Honduras, and Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil. He was also involved in the 2022/23 attempted coup in Brazil and campaigned for the ‘Rechazo’ option during Chile’s 2022 constitutional plebiscite.

Authorities describe Cerimedo as a digital mercenary who operated bot farms to amplify far-right propaganda and conduct smear campaigns against political opponents through disinformation. Following his arrest, investigators found approximately USD 40,000 and specialized equipment, including micro servers and modems, used to manage these operations in La Paz. His detention has prompted several Latin American nations to investigate his methods and influence.