Bolivian Prosecutor's Office opens third case against Cerimedo over drug trafficking links
Bolivia is investigating Argentine adviser Fernando Cerimedo for alleged protection of drug flights in Bení. He is already in preventive detention for illicit enrichment and attempted femicide.
New investigation points to Argentine adviser for coverage of irregular flights in Bení
Bolivia's Prosecutor's Office announced on Tuesday a third criminal proceeding against Fernando Cerimedo, former adviser to President Rodrigo Paz. According to elpais.com, the new case investigates him for alleged drug trafficking and covering up drug trafficking.
The Argentine political consultant is in preventive detention for 180 days and already faces separate investigations for alleged illicit enrichment and attempted femicide against his ex-partner, Nadia Beller, who was shot three times last week.
"The case that has been opened in the Controlled Substances Unit is regarding the protection that is allegedly being provided in the municipality of Santa Ana in relation to irregular flights. There is allegedly protection being given to small aircraft allegedly linked to drug trafficking," explained prosecutor Alexander Mendoza at a press conference.
Beller's accusations
Following the shooting attack, Beller filed various complaints against Cerimedo, who counted Argentine President Javier Milei and Honduran Nasry Asfura among his clients. Among the accusations, the complainant points out that Cerimedo and people from his circle would have used the alleged installation of GPS devices in small aircraft as a pretext to control air operations and allow the transit of aircraft loaded with drugs.
"His excuse was that he released the small aircraft to install radar on them and then take them down. He never accepted that he received money from corruption, but in a concealed manner to install radar, take it down and thus get rid of drug traffickers," declared Beller.
Santa Ana, zone with historical link to narco activity
The alleged events would have occurred in the Bení department, an Amazonian region bordering Brazil. Prosecutor Mendoza indicated in advance that he would summon not only Cerimedo and private individuals, but also airport authorities and officials in charge of combating drug trafficking. "If true and provable with evidence, it would be demonstrating that both public officials and civilians would be providing coverage for drug trafficking and irregular flights," he added.
The Bení city of Santa Ana concentrates much of the suspicion. The locality, characterised by extensive jungle areas and scarce land infrastructure, has a long reputation linked to drug trafficking, which facilitates air trafficking and the installation of clandestine airstrips on private estates. It was the birthplace of Roberto Suárez Gómez, known as "the king of cocaine" in the seventies and eighties. At a property in the same municipality, 316 kilogrammes of cocaine were found in March 2025, and last week the police apprehended seven people in possession of large-calibre weapons.
Network of corruption and home searches
Beller also reported an alleged corruption network related to petrol, diesel, gold and insurance that would involve President Paz, his wife Vivian Urquidi and Cerimedo himself. The Government rejected the accusations, although it urged the complainant to present evidence. As part of that case, being handled by the La Paz Prosecutor's Office, Beller was summoned to testify on Wednesday.
The investigations have advanced through raids on at least five properties linked to the Argentine adviser, where the Public Ministry claims to have found more than 40,000 dollars and a "mini bot farm".
Source: Google News ES — Crime (es)