Bolivian Raid Captures Alleged Top Drug Trafficker Sebastián Marset
Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia – Bolivian authorities have arrested Sebastián Enrique Marset Cabrera, a Uruguayan national identified by U.S. authorities as one of South America’s most significant drug traffickers. The arrest, carried out Friday in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, involved a large-scale police operation.
Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz hailed the capture as a major victory in the fight against drug trafficking, stating that “one of the drug traffickers and criminals considered among the four biggest on the continent has fallen.” He emphasized the government’s commitment to confronting both international and domestic criminal organizations.
Marset, 34, was indicted in the U.S. in March 2024 on money laundering charges, accused of utilizing American financial institutions to process millions of dollars in drug proceeds. He allegedly leads the “First Uruguayan Cartel,” responsible for shipping cocaine globally, including to Belgium and Portugal. A single bust in Antwerp, Belgium, uncovered nearly 16 tonnes of cocaine linked to his network.
The arrest comes as Paz’s administration, which took office in November, has re-established ties with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) after an 18-year hiatus. This renewed collaboration aligns with a broader push by the United States to aggressively address drug trafficking across the Western Hemisphere. President Donald Trump recently hosted Paz and other Latin American leaders at his Mar-a-Lago resort to discuss joint efforts against cartels.
Following his capture, Marset was transferred to U.S. custody and transported via a U.S.-marked aircraft. The DEA did not directly participate in the operation, which was led by Bolivian law enforcement. No injuries or deaths were reported.
Authorities had previously offered substantial rewards for information leading to Marset’s arrest – $2 million from the U.S. and $100,000 from Bolivia. He had been on the run since July 2023. Known for a brazen attitude, Marset reportedly stamped his drug shipments with the moniker “The King of the South.”
Paraguay has also indicated its intention to seek Marset’s extradition to face criminal charges there.
The arrest follows a recent operation in Mexico targeting Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, though that operation resulted in El Mencho’s death and subsequent retaliatory violence.
