Sebastian Marset, a notorious Uruguayan narco trafficker who has eluded police for years across South America, was arrested Friday in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, and handed over to U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents before being flown out of the country on a U.S. government aircraft, according to Bolivian state television and law enforcement officials.
Background
Marset, 34, who prosecutors say leads the First Uruguayan Cartel, had been on the run since July 2023 when he fled his home in Santa Cruz on the eve of a massive police operation targeting his organization. The arrest came as Bolivia and 16 other countries joined an anti-cartel military alliance launched by President Trump, marking a significant escalation in regional cooperation against transnational criminal organizations.
The kingpin had been imprisoned in Uruguay for drug trafficking from 2013 to 2018. After his release, he relocated throughout South America, living for periods in both Bolivia and Paraguay — both countries had issued warrants for his arrest. The United States last year offered a $2 million reward for information leading to his capture following what it called "the largest and most consequential organized crime investigation against cocaine trafficking in Paraguayan history."
Marset became notorious for his flamboyant lifestyle, particularly his passion for soccer. He laundered drug proceeds by purchasing and sponsoring lower-level professional soccer teams across Latin America and Europe, at times literally putting himself in the starting lineups. According to a Washington Post profile, he paid $10,000 in cash to wear the number 10 jersey worn by football icons Pelé, Maradona and Messi. He stamped his drug shipments with the nickname "The King of the South" and directed associates to hide cocaine in shipments of cookies and soybeans.
The Investigation
The arrest was carried out by hundreds of police officers in an upscale neighborhood of Santa Cruz, Bolivia's economic capital. Four other individuals were arrested in the coordinated raids, which involved U.S. intelligence support. The operation was conducted pursuant to a court order issued by the U.S. justice system, according to Senior Minister Marco Antonio Oviedo.
An indictment unsealed in the Eastern District of Virginia alleges that Marset "leads a large-scale drug trafficking organization that is believed to be responsible for moving ton quantities of cocaine from South America to Europe, while generating tens of millions in cash and proceeds," according to the DEA. The Paraguayan investigation reportedly uncovered text messages in which Marset asked advice on how to dispose of the bodies of murdered rivals.
Key Takeaways
- Sebastian Marset, leader of the First Uruguayan Cartel, was arrested in Santa Cruz, Bolivia and handed to U.S. DEA agents
- The $2 million bounty on his head was among the highest for Latin American drug traffickers
- Marset's organization is accused of moving more than 16 tons of cocaine from South America to Europe
- He laundered drug proceeds through purchasing and sponsoring soccer teams across Latin America and Europe
- Four other individuals were arrested in the coordinated raids
- U.S. intelligence contributed to his capture, which comes weeks after cartel leader "El Mencho" was killed in Mexico
What's Next
Marset will face charges in U.S. federal court in the Eastern District of Virginia, where the indictment was unsealed. The case represents one of the most significant victories in ongoing U.S. efforts to disrupt transnational drug trafficking networks operating across South America. Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz, who took office last year ending two decades of socialist rule, thanked international partners for their cooperation in the capture.
The arrest marks the second major Latin American narco boss taken down in under a month, following the death of Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes (El Mencho) during a military operation in Jalisco, Mexico.