Sebastián Marset

Sebastián Marset was Uruguay’s most famous drug trafficker and the leader of an international network known as the First Uruguayan Cartel (Primer Cartel Uruguayo – PCU).

Marset had ties with foreign criminal groups, including Paraguay’s Insfrán Clan, Brazil’s First Capital Command (Primeiro Comando da Capital – PCC), and Italy’s ‘Ndrangheta. Though mainly associated with drug trafficking and money laundering, Marset was also connected to several murders, including the 2022 assassination of Paraguayan anti-mafia prosecutor Marcelo Pecci.

He was captured in Bolivia on March 13, 2026, during a security operation supported by the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and was immediately transferred into US custody.

What is Sebastián Marset’s Story?

Marset’s earliest known ties to the drug trade stretch back to 2012, when he received a massive shipment of marijuana flown to Uruguay by Juan Domingo Viveros Cartes, the uncle of Paraguay’s ex-President Horacio Cartes. Marset was arrested for his involvement in another shipment in 2013 and sent to Uruguay’s Libertad prison, one of Uruguay’s deadliest prisons, according to a study by the University of the Republic of Uruguay.

Marset spent five years in Libertad, where he allegedly began to build connections with members of PCC. Upon his release in 2018, he began traveling the region and building contacts. He made his first trip to Bolivia in August 2018.

In 2019, Marset established his base in Paraguay where he built connections with the Insfrán Clan and set up businesses, such as Total Cars, which he used to launder his drug money. During his time in Paraguay, Marset also pursued legitimate ventures, including concert promotion and music production. In April 2021, he signed as a player with the local football club, Deportivo Capiatá.

Marset left Paraguay on June 7, 2021, to increase his international contacts in this trafficking network, according to Paraguayan newspaper ABC Color. In October 2021, he was detained in Dubai for traveling under a fake Paraguayan passport. Despite warnings from Uruguay’s ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, the Uruguayan government rushed a new passport for Marset. Dubai released him and Marset disappeared. 

The government’s approval and rushed delivery of Marset’s passport became a massive scandal in Uruguay, leading numerous high-level officials to resign.

Paraguay launched an investigation in early 2022 dubbed Operation A Ultranza PY, bringing criminal charges against Marset and 23 others, and arresting eight individuals, including Alberto Koube Ayala, a key partner who helped Marset launder his money. 

Marset likely returned to Bolivia in September 2022, where he settled down in Santa Cruz, according to Bolivian news outlet El Deber. He bought a mansion, an arsenal of firearms, and part of the Leones de El Torno soccer club, where he was also a player.

In July 2023, Bolivian authorities raided Marset’s Santa Cruz mansion. They seized a cache of weapons, numerous vehicles, and several exotic animals. But Marset evaded capture with his family.

In July 2024, Federico Ezequiel Santoro Vassallo, who is accused by US prosecutors of setting up many of the payment and money laundering schemes used by Marset, was extradited to the United States on money laundering charges. He pleaded guilty in May 2025. The same day as his plea, US authorities released an indictment for Marset for conspiracy to commit money laundering, offering $2 million for his capture.

In March 2026, Marset was captured in Bolivia during a security operation supported by the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).

What Crimes Was Sebastián Marset Involved in?

Marset’s early criminal career involved receiving large shipments of marijuana in Uruguay. But after being released from prison in 2018, Marset has primarily dedicated himself to coordinating shipments of cocaine from Bolivia, through Paraguay, and then to Europe. 

With his profits from the drug trade, Marset has had to launder an extensive amount of money, which he has done through seemingly legitimate businesses and currency exchanges. 

Beyond his involvement in trafficking and laundering, Marset has been linked to murders, including the high-profile assassination of Paraguayan prosecutor Marcelo Pecci.

Where Did Sebastián Marset Operate?

Despite managing intercontinental criminal networks, Marset did not lead a structured group or control any territory. He has been most active in Paraguay and Bolivia. The scandal surrounding his passport suggests he may have wielded influence with elements of Uruguay’s government.

Through allies, such as the PCC and ‘Ndrangheta, Marset was able to move cocaine to Europe. His trip to Dubai in 2021 aimed to bolster his connections in the Middle East, according to media reports, though the success of those efforts was unclear.

Who Were Sebastián Marset’s Allies and Enemies?

Marset’s closest ally was Paraguay’s Insfrán Clan, with whom he laundered money, trafficked cocaine, and allegedly assassinated rivals. With entrenched links to the highest levels of Paraguayan politics, the Insfrán Clan was likely key in helping Marset build his network inside the country. 

Marset also had ties to the PCC and ‘Ndrangheta, who dealt with the latter stages of the cocaine pipeline from South America to Europe. While Marset’s cocaine shipments moved from Bolivia to Paraguay and then to South America’s Atlantic ports, the PCC and ‘Ndrangheta controled the shipping and distribution of cocaine in Europe.

In all of these relationships, Marset coordinated between groups and handled logistics. 

How Was Sebastián Marset Captured?

On March 13, Paraguayan authorities announced Marset’s arrest in Santa Cruz department, a major drug trafficking corridor in Bolivia. The joint operation that led to his capture was led by Bolivia’s anti-narcotics force (Fuerza de Lucha Contra el Narcotráfico – FELCN) and the DEA. He was immediately transferred into US custody.