Alleged Latin American narco trafficker Sebastian Marset made his first appearance in a U.S. court on Monday after being captured in Bolivia and handed over to American authorities, marking the end of a years-long international manhunt for one of South America's most notorious drug barons.
Background
Marset, 34, a Uruguayan national who eluded police for years, was captured in Bolivia last week and transferred to U.S. custody. He had been on the run since July 2023 when he fled his home in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, on the eve of a massive police operation to capture him.
The most notorious drug baron in the southern part of South America, Marset was imprisoned in his native Uruguay for drug trafficking between 2013 and 2018. After his release, he moved around South America, living for a time in Bolivia and Paraguay.
According to a Washington Post profile from 2024, Marset stamped his drug shipments with "The King of the South" and gave orders for cocaine to be stashed in shipments of cookies and soybeans. He also paid $10,000 in cash to wear the number 10 jersey worn by football icons Pele, Maradona and Messi during his teams' games.
The Charges
Marset faces money laundering conspiracy charges connected with his alleged cocaine trafficking organization. An indictment unsealed in the Eastern District of Virginia alleges Marset "leads a large-scale drug trafficking organization that is believed to be responsible for moving tons of cocaine from South America to Europe, while generating tens of millions in cash and proceeds," according to the DEA.
The drug trafficking organization allegedly operates in Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, Brazil, Belgium, the Netherlands, Portugal and elsewhere. Marset allegedly laundered proceeds by purchasing and sponsoring lower-level professional soccer teams across Latin America and Europe, even putting himself in the starting lineups.
He made an initial appearance on Monday in a federal district court in Virginia. Marset could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted of money laundering conspiracy.
A close associate, Federico Ezequiel Santoro Vassallo, was sentenced to 15 years in prison by a U.S. court in July after pleading guilty to money laundering. Federal prosecutors said Santoro and, allegedly, Marset threatened violence to protect their drug-trafficking and money laundering activities.
Key Takeaways
- Sebastian Marset, 34, is a Uruguayan national and alleged leader of a large-scale drug trafficking organization
- The DEA says his organization moved tons of cocaine from South America to Europe, generating tens of millions in proceeds
- Marset had a $2 million U.S. bounty on his head for alleged money laundering
- He was imprisoned in Uruguay for drug trafficking from 2013 to 2018 and fled on the eve of a police operation in July 2023
- Bolivian authorities seized $15 million in assets from Marset, including 16 planes, five houses and firearms
- He could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted of money laundering conspiracy
What's Next
Marset will continue proceedings in federal court in the Eastern District of Virginia. The case represents a significant win for U.S. authorities in their ongoing efforts to target major drug trafficking organizations operating across South America and into Europe.
Bolivian authorities credited international cooperation from neighboring countries and the United States in facilitating Marset's capture, just weeks after notorious cartel leader Nemesio Rubén Oseguera Cervantes, also known as "El Mencho," was killed during an operation in Mexico.