Uruguayan national Sebastián Enrique Marset Cabrera was captured in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia on Friday morning and transferred to the custody of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). The arrest took place during a raid in Las Palmas, an upscale residential neighborhood.
Key Takeaways
Uruguayan drug kingpin Sebastián Marset was captured in Bolivia and transferred to U.S. authorities. He is accused of leading a major drug trafficking network operating across South America and Europe.
- Uruguayan national Sebastián Marset arrested in Santa Cruz, Bolivia
- Transferred to DEA custody and flown to the United States
- Accused of leading international drug trafficking organization
- Wanted by U.S., Paraguay, Bolivia, Uruguay, Brazil for multiple charges including money laundering
The 34-year-old drug kingpin, known as the "King of the South," is accused of leading a large-scale international drug trafficking organization responsible for moving significant quantities of cocaine from South America to Europe. According to Reuters, Marset was flown directly to the United States following his arrest.
Bolivian Interior Minister Marco Antonio Oviedo stated that no one was killed or injured during the operation, and that U.S. authorities did not participate in the arrest but were involved in Marset's transfer. The capture comes after Bolivia recently resumed cooperation with the DEA as part of a broader multinational push against organized crime.
Marset is wanted by multiple countries for various charges including money laundering and organized crime related to cocaine trafficking. He has been on the run since July 2023 when he fled his home in Santa Cruz ahead of a massive police operation to capture him. The U.S. State Department had previously announced a $2 million reward for information leading to his arrest.
The arrest marks a significant milestone in international efforts against drug trafficking and organized crime, with Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz hailing it as a regional achievement. Marset's capture follows recent operations targeting high-profile narco traffickers across Latin America.
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