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’s in this profile:
Recent News on Sebastián Marset
September 7, 2026 — Marset’s Defense Seeks to Overturn Cryptocurrency Seizure
Sebastián Marset’s defense asked a US court to overturn the seizure of four cryptocurrency accounts attributed to the drug trafficker and managed by Tether, a digital asset company based in El Salvador. His lawyers argued that the seizure order relied on an alleged narco-terrorism charge, but Marset was facing only money laundering conspiracy charges at the time the accounts were seized. They also challenged US jurisdiction over assets held outside the country, arguing that these irregularities invalidate the seizure.
Read More Updates
September 6, 2026, Marset Collaborator Arrested
Paraguay’s Anti-Narcotics Department arrested Dionisio Manuel Cáceres Cabrera in Itacurubí, Cordillera department, ending a manhunt that began in February 2026. Authorities say Cáceres Cabrera was a secretary and operational collaborator for Sebastián Marset managing Marset-linked football clubs, including Rubio Ñu, which the network allegedly used to launder proceeds from a cocaine trafficking operation spanning Bolivia, Paraguay, Brazil, and Europe.
June 25, 2026 — US Adds 4 Charges Against Marset
A US court filed a superseding indictment against Marset on June 25 accusing Marset of working with Colombia’s Gaitanistas and detailing the role of an unindicted Colombian suspected of facilitating deals between Marset and European cocaine buyers. It also describes several money laundering schemes involving Federico Santoro, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison in July for his role in the organization.
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).
After his arrest, US legal proceedings turned their attention to other assets linked to Marset. In April, US authorities seized four cryptocurrency accounts attributed to him and controlled by Tether, a digital asset company based in El Salvador. In September, his defense asked the court to overturn the seizure, arguing that the order was legally flawed and that US courts lacked jurisdiction over assets held outside the country.
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. According to documents from the US investigation, Federico Santoro Vassallo allegedly acted as a money launderer for Marset’s organization, helping move millions of dollars in drug proceeds from Europe to South America and other destinations. Although Marset and Santoro worked closely together, Santoro allegedly also provided money laundering services to other individuals. Marset is believed to have relied on other money launderers as well.
The case against Marset has also brought scrutiny to cryptocurrency assets attributed to him, including the four accounts whose seizure is now being challenged by his defense.
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 controlled 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.
Facts Only
* Sebastián Marset led the First Uruguayan Cartel (PCU).
* Marset had ties to Paraguay’s Insfrán Clan, Brazil’s PCC, and Italy’s ‘Ndrangheta.
* Marset was connected to several murders, including the 2022 assassination of Paraguayan prosecutor Marcelo Pecci.
* Marset was captured in Bolivia on March 13, 2026, during a security operation involving the DEA.
* Marset's defense sought to overturn the seizure of four cryptocurrency accounts attributed to him managed by Tether in September 2026.
* Paraguay’s Anti-Narcotics Department arrested Dionisio Manuel Cáceres Cabrera in Itacurubí, Cordillera department, in relation to Marset-linked football clubs and cocaine laundering.
* A US court filed a superseding indictment against Marset on June 25, 2026, accusing him of working with Colombia’s Gaitanistas and money laundering schemes involving Federico Santoro.
* Marset’s earliest known ties to the drug trade began in 2012 with marijuana shipments.
* In 2019, Marset established a base in Paraguay and built connections with the Insfrán Clan.
* Bolivian authorities raided Marset’s Santa Cruz mansion in July 2023, seizing weapons and vehicles.
Executive Summary
Sebastián Marset, leader of the First Uruguayan Cartel (PCU), had extensive ties to international criminal groups including Paraguay’s Insfrán Clan, Brazil’s PCC, and Italy’s ‘Ndrangheta, primarily involving drug trafficking and money laundering. Marset was involved in several murders, such as the 2022 assassination of Paraguayan prosecutor Marcelo Pecci. He was captured in Bolivia on March 13, 2026, during a DEA-supported operation and transferred to US custody.
Recent developments involve legal challenges to assets, as Marset’s defense sought to overturn the seizure of four cryptocurrency accounts linked to him managed by Tether. Concurrently, collaborators were arrested, such as Dionisio Manuel Cáceres Cabrera in Paraguay, who was involved in managing Marset-linked football clubs and laundering proceeds from cocaine trafficking across South America and Europe. Furthermore, US authorities added four charges against Marset in June 2026, including accusations of working with Colombian Gaitanistas and involvement in money laundering schemes involving Federico Santoro.
Marset's history traces back to 2012 when he received marijuana shipments and subsequent arrests related to drug trafficking. His operational history involved establishing bases in Paraguay and Bolivia, engaging in property acquisition and association with organized crime elements, which led to investigations like Operation A Ultranza PY. The narrative shows a complex web of international connections, internal criminal collaboration, and financial maneuvering through legitimate-seeming businesses and cryptocurrency assets.
Full Take
The narrative of Sebastián Marset illustrates the complex interplay between transnational criminal logistics, localized political influence, and modern financial mechanisms. The consistent thread is not merely drug trafficking but the sophisticated laundering required to sustain these operations, evidenced by his alleged collaboration with figures like Federico Santoro in structuring money flows across borders. The focus on cryptocurrency assets being seized highlights a tension between traditional criminal enterprise structure and contemporary forensic methods, suggesting that control over illicit finance is shifting from tangible assets to digital ones.
The pattern of Marset’s network relies heavily on exploiting institutional vulnerabilities; his alleged relationship with the Insfrán Clan provided localized entry and laundering mechanisms in Paraguay, while alliances with PCC and ‘Ndrangheta facilitated international distribution routes. This demonstrates a critical dynamic: criminal success is achieved not just through physical control but through sophisticated brokerage of risk and capital across disparate legal jurisdictions. The narrative involving the passport scandal points to the potential for criminal influence to intersect with state apparatuses, raising questions about accountability when illicit networks engage political actors.
The implications for cognitive sovereignty lie in recognizing that the pursuit of facts requires looking beyond simple transactional data—the flow of drugs or money—to analyze the structure of association and systemic leverage. The shift from physical control (possessing property) to digital asset control reflects a necessary adaptation in criminal operations, demanding an analytical framework sensitive to how power is exercised across physical and virtual spaces. What systems remain unchecked when illicit actors utilize these new avenues for operation? What mechanisms exist to ensure that the complexity of international finance does not obscure the fundamental injustice of the resulting harm?
Sentinel — Human
The text reads like a detailed investigative summary, skillfully weaving together specific criminal history, geographic movements, and evolving legal challenges related to Sebastián Marset, strongly suggesting human journalistic synthesis of complex facts.