Small planes seized and ongoing investigations
The seven planes underwent sample collection and technical inspections to determine whether they were transporting narcotics; caches and trenches were also found that could have been used to conceal cargo. The laboratory results will be crucial in confirming the drug hypothesis and determining criminal liability.
Bolivian security forces are investigating the possible presence of Uruguayan drug trafficker Sebastián Marset after an operation that resulted in the discovery of seven small planes and an arsenal in a hangar near Santa Cruz. This discovery triggered a series of forensic examinations to determine whether the aircraft transported controlled substances and raised suspicions about the reappearance of operators linked to the kingpin.
Official sources reported that the aircraft were sealed and that laboratory analysis is being conducted to search for residues confirming drug trafficking. At the same time, military weapons and ammunition were found nearby, complicating the initial hypothesis and expanding the investigation .
The Special Force against Drug Trafficking deployed the operation with the support of multiple patrols and two helicopters, due to the possibility of finding armed individuals on the property. Authorities maintain that the magnitude of the operation is due both to the material seized and to the search for possible links to transnational organizations.
One line of investigation suggests that Marset, who was already in Bolivia after escaping an operation in Paraguay in July 2023, may have resumed activities in the area. Since then, the Uruguayan's whereabouts remain unconfirmed, but his name has reappeared in the local investigation.
Separately, U.S. authorities announced a reward of up to $2 million for information leading to the capture or conviction of Uruguayan Sebastián Marset, under the Transnational Organized Crimes Rewards Program (TOCRP). The State Department's notification was issued in parallel with the disclosure of a criminal indictment by the Department of Justice for alleged money laundering through the U.S. financial system.
According to official documents, the investigation that led to the reward linked the Marset network to more than 16 tons of cocaine seized in Europe and South America, including an 11-ton seizure in Antwerp in 2021 and another of approximately 4.7 tons detected in Paraguay. These seizures are part of the larger case known as Operation A Ultranza Py, coordinated by several prosecutors' offices and law enforcement agencies in the region.
The Justice Department's announcement specifies that the indictment targets laundering schemes allegedly used by U.S. financial institutions to move drug trafficking proceeds. The case was filed and initiated after years of collaborative work between agencies and enabled the award to be made available under the TOCRP mechanism.
The DEA has added Sebastián Enrique Marset Cabrera to its fugitive list and has provided a channel for providing information: MarsetTips@dea.gov. The agency emphasizes that communications are treated confidentially and that those with information can also contact their local DEA office if they are in the United States.
The investigative effort that led to these actions involved interagency cooperation: the investigation was coordinated by units from Paraguay, Bolivia, and international partners such as Europol, in addition to the DEA itself and offices of the U.S. Departments of State and Justice. The measure reflects the magnitude attributed to the network and the intention to dismantle its financial and logistical channels.
Regional context and background
Marset is a wanted subject for organized crime offenses in several Southern Cone countries; his name reappeared on the public agenda following investigations and arrests related to his entourage and companies allegedly used to launder funds. In 2023, Bolivia had offered an additional reward for his capture, and since then, his whereabouts have continued to be monitored by regional police forces.
What the prosecution seeks to prove and what's next
US charges seek to demonstrate the circulation of illicit funds through financial systems with ties to the US, allowing the US justice system to claim jurisdiction and file formal charges. The next step is typically gathering information that will allow the individual to be located and, eventually, prosecuted under extradition treaties and international judicial cooperation.
How to help and guarantees
Those with information can write to MarsetTips@dea.gov or contact their local DEA office. Official sources emphasize that contributions can be anonymous and that the information will be evaluated by specialized teams before operational measures are initiated.
Main sources cited
U.S. Department of State (TOCRP), U.S. Department of Justice (indictment/publication), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and statements from U.S. diplomatic missions in the region.
