By Micah Jonah,March 13, 2026
Authorities in Bolivia have arrested alleged Uruguayan drug kingpin, Sebastián Marset, one of the most wanted fugitives by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration.
Bolivian Interior Minister, Marco Antonio Oviedo announced that the 34 year old suspect was captured during a security operation in Santa Cruz de la Sierra. Authorities confirmed that Marset was later flown to the United States to face charges.
Officials said the operation was carried out without casualties. While the DEA did not directly participate in the arrest, it coordinated with Bolivian authorities to facilitate Marset’s transfer to the United States.
Marset is accused of leading the First Uruguayan Cartel and is wanted in several countries for organized crime activities related to cocaine trafficking between South America and Europe. US prosecutors have also indicted him on money laundering charges.
Bolivian President, Rodrigo Paz described the arrest as a major breakthrough in the fight against organized crime across the continent.
According to authorities, Marset had previously been detained in 2021 in Dubai while traveling with a forged passport but was later released after receiving a new passport issued by Uruguay, a development that triggered a political scandal, led to the resignation of several senior officials.
Regional security agencies have pursued Marset for years. His brother, Diego Nicolás Marset, was arrested in Brazil in 2023 during a multinational operation involving law enforcement agencies from several South American countries.
Authorities say the capture marks a significant step in the ongoing international crackdown on organized crime networks operatinDrugs ,g across the region.
