A newly published investigation by Bellingcat and Colombian media partner Cerosetenta has cast a harsh spotlight on the growing reach of transnational neo-Nazi movements in Latin America, uncovering alleged connections between a Colombian political figure and Active Club Bogota, a militant far-right group linked to international extremist networks.
At the centre of the investigation is Jorge Rodriguez, a businessman and former congressional candidate for Colombia’s right-wing Centro Democratico party, who appeared in a February 2026 social media video painting over anti-Nazi graffiti in a neighbourhood of Bogota. In the footage, Rodriguez and several unidentified men are seen covering messages that included the phrase “Creole Nazis will not pass,” replacing them with political imagery associated with Rodriguez himself.
Rodriguez framed the act as an effort to “defend public space” and prevent hatred from influencing future generations. But investigators from Bellingcat say the footage raised deeper questions because one of the masked men shown in the video appears to match the tattoos and physical features of Javier “Orlik” Ruiz, a prominent alleged member of Active Club Bogota, Colombia’s branch of the international Active Club movement.
The investigation relied heavily on open-source intelligence techniques, comparing tattoos visible through pixelated footage with images publicly shared on social media accounts linked to Ruiz. Bellingcat analysts identified similarities in hand tattoos, finger markings, wrist designs and arm patterns that they say strongly suggest Ruiz’s presence in Rodriguez’s video.
Neither Rodriguez nor Ruiz answered detailed questions posed by Bellingcat regarding their relationship or alleged involvement with Active Club Bogota. Instead, both men reportedly threatened legal action over the use of their names and images, citing privacy and data protection concerns under Colombian law. Bellingcat said it consulted legal experts in Colombia and the Netherlands and concluded that publication was protected under freedom of expression principles because both men are public figures and the information was deemed to be in the public interest.
The revelations come amid rising concern over the expansion of the Active Club movement beyond Europe and North America. Founded in the United States by white supremacist Robert Rundo, the network promotes a blend of fitness culture, combat sports and nationalist ideology to recruit young men into far-right extremism. Analysts say the movement often attempts to package fascist ideology in ways designed to appear socially acceptable or youth-oriented.
According to the investigation, Active Club Bogota appears to be the only officially recognised branch of the movement in South America. Since emerging online in early 2024, the group has openly celebrated Adolf Hitler’s birthday, staged Nazi-inspired book burnings and distributed imagery featuring swastikas and antisemitic propaganda.
One event documented by Bellingcat showed copies of Anne Frank’s diary and works by Jewish physicist Albert Einstein being burned at a community centre in Bogota during a 2025 Hitler birthday celebration. Images from a 2026 gathering featured swastika-decorated cupcakes, a Nazi-themed birthday cake and the screening of a propaganda film produced during the Third Reich.
The investigation also uncovered extensive digital links between Rodriguez and Active Club Bogota. Rodriguez reportedly followed the group’s official Instagram account and interacted with some of its content online. Bellingcat noted that Rodriguez “liked” at least one post featuring neo-Nazi symbolism earlier this year.
Although Rodriguez failed to win a parliamentary seat in Colombia’s March 2026 elections, receiving just over 4,400 votes, he has portrayed himself as an influential youth organiser within Centro Democratico, one of Colombia’s largest conservative parties. His social media accounts show photographs alongside senior party figures, including former Colombian president Alvaro Uribe Velez and presidential hopeful Paloma Valencia.
Centro Democratico distanced itself from the allegations after being contacted by Bellingcat. Party director Gabriel Vallejo said there was no proven evidence linking Rodriguez to extremist organisations and emphasised that the party rejects hate speech, violence and the glorification of criminal behaviour. He added that any conduct violating democratic principles would be subject to internal disciplinary procedures.
Experts interviewed by Bellingcat warned that even informal relationships between political actors and extremist movements could have dangerous consequences. Heidi Beirich, co-founder of the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism, said granting legitimacy to openly neo-Nazi organisations risks normalising extremist ideology. Alexander Ritzmann of the Counter-Extremism Project warned that small groups such as Active Club Bogota can function as recruitment and training hubs that connect local activists to wider transnational extremist networks.
The investigation further linked Active Club Bogota to notorious neo-Nazi organisations Blood & Honour and Combat 18, both of which have long histories of violent extremism in Europe. Photographs and videos examined by Bellingcat allegedly show Ruiz associating with British neo-Nazi musician Ken McLellan and displaying symbols tied to Combat 18, which has been designated a terrorist organisation in several countries.
In one case, investigators identified merchandise connected to Combat 18 being promoted through Colombian-based online retail accounts allegedly linked to Ruiz. After Bellingcat contacted Meta, the parent company of WhatsApp, the account advertising the material was reportedly banned for violating platform policies.
The investigation also traced connections between Active Club Bogota and emerging far-right networks across Latin America. The Colombian group promoted affiliated Telegram channels in Brazil, Argentina and Mexico, describing members abroad as “brothers” united by a mission to reclaim “identity and heritage.” Though some of these channels have since disappeared, analysts say the pattern demonstrates efforts to spread extremist organising models throughout the region.
Spanish authorities have previously described Combat 18 as an “international criminal organisation” with links extending into South America. Bellingcat’s findings suggest that Colombian extremists may be participating in a wider ecosystem that includes music networks, propaganda distribution and militant activism spanning several countries.
For researchers who track far-right radicalisation, the case illustrates how extremist groups increasingly blend online influence campaigns with local political and social movements. Unlike older neo-Nazi organisations that relied on overt intimidation, Active Club chapters often package their messaging through fitness clubs, martial arts training and social events aimed at younger recruits.
Bellingcat’s investigation concludes that Active Club Bogota represents a more openly militant and explicitly neo-Nazi version of the movement’s broader strategy. Experts quoted in the report warned that while some Active Club branches attempt to avoid scrutiny by toning down overt antisemitism, the Colombian chapter appears to embrace direct Nazi symbolism and Hitler glorification without hesitation.
As Colombia grapples with political polarisation and social unrest, the emergence of organised extremist networks tied to international neo-Nazi movements is likely to intensify concerns among human rights advocates and security analysts alike. The investigation has also reignited debate about how democratic institutions and mainstream political parties should respond when individuals associated with extremist ideologies attempt to enter public office or influence national discourse.
