Top DEA Fugitive Sebastián Marset Captured in Bolivia, Sent to U.S.

Uruguayan drug trafficker known as the "King of the South" arrested in Santa Cruz de la Sierra

Mar. 13, 2026 at 3:54pm

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Sebastián Enrique Marset Cabrera, a Uruguayan drug trafficker considered a priority fugitive for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, was captured in Bolivia on Friday and is being transferred to the United States. Marset, known as the "King of the South," was arrested during a raid in the upscale Las Palmas neighborhood of Santa Cruz de la Sierra and will face charges in the U.S. related to his involvement in an international cocaine trafficking and money laundering network.

Why it matters

Marset's capture is a significant blow to organized crime in the region, as he was identified as the leader of a major drug trafficking operation spanning Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Europe. His network was linked to the seizure of over 16 tons of cocaine as part of a major Paraguayan investigation, and he was also suspected of ordering the murder of a Paraguayan prosecutor in 2022.

The details

Bolivian security forces conducted the early morning raid in Las Palmas, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, where they apprehended Marset. He is being transported from Viru Viru International Airport in Santa Cruz under heavy police guard to be extradited to the United States. Authorities also detained five Venezuelan citizens who were allegedly part of Marset's operational network.

  • The raid occurred around 2 a.m. on March 13, 2026.
  • Marset was first linked to drug trafficking in 2013 when he was arrested in Uruguay for receiving a marijuana shipment connected to Paraguayan traffickers. He served 5 years in prison and expanded his criminal network after his release in 2018.

The players

Sebastián Enrique Marset Cabrera

A Uruguayan national known as the "King of the South" who was identified as the leader of an international cocaine trafficking and money laundering network operating in Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Europe.

Jalil Rachid

The minister of Paraguay's National Anti-Drug Secretariat, who confirmed Marset's arrest to authorities.

Enrique Riera

The interior minister of Paraguay, who stated that Marset's capture could provide new information about his criminal structure in the region.

Marcelo Pecci

A Paraguayan prosecutor who was murdered in Colombia in 2022, with Marset identified as the "determining figure" behind the assassination.

Rodrigo Paz

The current president of Bolivia, whose government restored cooperation with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration after an 18-year rupture, according to Paraguayan Senator Eduardo Nakayama.

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What they’re saying

“He was one of the most wanted people worldwide, Rachid said. Many will be seeking his head. I am sure the American government is also interested in that because he used its financial system.”

— Jalil Rachid, Minister of Paraguay's National Anti-Drug Secretariat

“More than one person will be worried right now if he tells everything he knows about past events and his connections in Paraguay”

— Enrique Riera, Interior Minister of Paraguay

“Marset's capture is a key blow to organized crime and was not a coincidence. It coincides with the restoration of cooperation with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration under the government of Rodrigo Paz in Bolivia after 18 years of rupture (2008-2025), during which the country made no progress in the fight against drug trafficking, demonstrating the importance of shared intelligence.”

— Eduardo Nakayama, Paraguayan Senator

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Sebastián Marset out on bail.

The takeaway

Marset's capture represents a significant victory in the fight against international drug trafficking networks, but it also highlights the importance of cross-border cooperation and intelligence sharing between law enforcement agencies in the region to dismantle these sophisticated criminal organizations.