Bolivian Authorities Capture Notorious Drug Kingpin During Police Raid Operation

Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz Celebrates Arrest of Notorious Drug Kingpin Sebastian Enrique Marset Cabrera

In a morning raid involving hundreds of police officers, Sebastian Enrique Marset Cabrera, one of the most wanted drug kingpins in South America, has been arrested in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia. The arrest was announced by President Paz during a news conference in La Paz, where he hailed the capture as a significant milestone in the fight against organized crime.

Marset, a 34-year-old Uruguayan citizen, is accused of leading a transnational criminal group responsible for shipping cocaine across the world, including to destinations such as Belgium and Portugal. He was indicted on money laundering charges in March 2024, alleging that he used US-based financial institutions to process millions in drug-trafficking proceeds.

The arrest coincides with a renewed push from the United States to more aggressively address drug trafficking across the Western Hemisphere. The US has offered a $2 million bounty for Marset’s capture and had previously hosted Paz at his Mar-a-Lago resort to discuss shared efforts to combat drug cartels.

Marset was on the run since July 2023, ahead of a planned operation to detain him. He had been considered “one of South America’s most notorious drug traffickers” by the DEA. The arrest marks a significant development in the fight against organized crime in Bolivia and the region.

The Bolivian government has demonstrated a willingness to partner with the US on efforts to combat drug trafficking, following Paz’s inauguration in November 2023. Marset was seen boarding a US-tagged plane after his arrest, which was led by local law enforcement without DEA participation. No injuries or deaths were reported during the operation.

Marset had been wanted for criminal charges in both Paraguay and Bolivia, with a $100,000 reward posted in Bolivia for information leading to his capture. He had also solicited advice about disposing of bodies over text messages, according to prosecutors.

Source: Al Jazeera