Between November 5 and 6, Uruguayan police authorities will hold a meeting with representatives of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in Lima. The meeting will focus on the case of Uruguayan drug trafficker Sebastián Marset, currently a fugitive and considered one of the most wanted criminals in the region.
The Uruguayan police are seeking to exchange information on possible hiding places for the leader of the criminal network. His whereabouts have been unknown since July 2023. At that time, he was located in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, where he was living under a false identity and presenting himself as a soccer player. Although he was detected by authorities, he managed to escape.
Since then, some clues have emerged about his whereabouts. Marset even gave a television interview from an undisclosed location. His wife, Gianina García Troche, was arrested in Spain and later extradited to Paraguay, rekindling international interest in his capture.
The meeting in Lima will include DEA Regional Chief Michael D. Cabral and representatives from other South American countries involved in the search. The objective is to strengthen regional cooperation and evaluate joint strategies to locate Uruguayan drug trafficker Sebastián Marset.
The United States announced a reward of up to two million dollars for information leading to his whereabouts. The DEA suspects Marset may be hiding in Venezuela, although this has not been officially confirmed.
The U.S. agency reported that it is maintaining an active investigation into the criminal organization led by Marset. In a statement, it encouraged anyone with information about his activities—including drug trafficking, money laundering, and use of violence—to share it with authorities.
In addition, the aliases he used were detailed: Luis Amorim Santon, the name under which he played soccer in Bolivia, and Gabriel de Souza Bemer, another false identity linked to his operations.
The United States offers a reward for Uruguayan drug trafficker Marset.
The DEA suspects he may be hiding in Venezuela under a false identity.
Currently, the accused drug trafficker is fourth on the DEA's list of most wanted fugitives. He is preceded by Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes (El Mencho), leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel; Yulan Adonay Archaga Carias, alleged leader of the Mara Salvatrucha gang; and Jesús Alfredo Guzmán Salazar, son of El Chapo Guzmán.
Uruguayan drug trafficker Sebastián Marset is accused of leading a criminal network based in Paraguay. In April 2021, the organization attempted to ship 16 tons of cocaine to Europe. Authorities at the port of Antwerp, Belgium, seized 11 tons.
He is also accused of multiple money laundering operations through U.S. financial institutions, as well as expanding his criminal activities in Bolivia. In 2023, these accusations led to a new reward offer from the United States .
In parallel, Uruguayan President Yamandú Orsi held his first official meeting this week with the United States ambassador in Montevideo, Lou Rinaldi. Although no details were disclosed on the topics discussed, bilateral ties on security matters were one of the focal points of the meeting.
In an institutional video, Rinaldi shared his personal story with Uruguay . “I grew up in this small country. I had my schooling here, my education. Uruguay gave me hope and a unique education so I could progress in the United States,” the diplomat said.
According to the embassy, Rinaldi's work will focus on three areas: strengthening economic ties, improving public safety, and promoting human rights. In this context, the case of Uruguayan drug trafficker Marset appears to be one of the shared challenges between the two countries.
In parallel with the international operations, the Uruguayan police continue to work in coordination with regional agencies to track possible movements of Uruguayan drug trafficker Sebastián Marset. According to sources close to the investigation, immigration alerts have been activated in several Latin American countries, and communication networks that could be linked to his entourage are being monitored.
Furthermore, the possibility is being investigated that Marset is operating under new identities, with false documentation issued in countries where he maintains contacts. This method was previously used in Bolivia, where he presented himself as a professional soccer player, allowing him to move around relatively freely for months.
Key meeting on the fugitive wanted by the DEA in Lima
Uruguay and the DEA are seeking to coordinate efforts to advance his capture.
The meeting in Lima will also serve to review information-sharing mechanisms between security forces. In this regard, Uruguay seeks to strengthen its role in the regional cooperation network against organized crime , especially with regard to drug trafficking and money laundering.
On the other hand, the meeting with the DEA is expected to include an update on the ongoing investigations in the United States, where the financial flow of the organization led by the Uruguayan fugitive is being analyzed. US authorities have detected operations linked to banks and shell companies that could be facilitating money laundering.
In this context, the case of Uruguayan drug trafficker Marset has become a symbol of the challenges faced by countries in the region in combating transnational criminal structures. His ability to evade justice, operate in different countries, and maintain an active network of collaborators raises questions about the effectiveness of current oversight systems.
Uruguayan authorities expect the meeting in Lima to advance new lines of investigation and consolidate strategic alliances that will facilitate his capture. Meanwhile, Marset remains one of the most visible faces of regional drug trafficking, with a multimillion-dollar bounty and a network that has yet to be fully dismantled.
