Notorious Drug Trafficker Sebastian Marcet Arrested in Bolivia
On March 13, 2026, Sebastian Marcet, a 34-year-old Uruguayan drug trafficker long listed among South America’s most wanted, was apprehended in Bolivia. This arrest comes after years of eluding law enforcement across Latin America and an active position on the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) most wanted list.
A bounty of up to $2 million had been placed on him by the U.S. in May of the previous year. Following his arrest, he was turned over to the DEA at Santa Cruz airport, as reported by Bolivian state television.
“The arrest and deportation were carried out under a court order from the U.S. judicial system,” said Bolivian Senior Minister Marco Antonio Oviedo during a press conference.
While the DEA played a role in Marcet’s extradition to the U.S., they were not involved in his initial capture.
Marcet faces serious charges in the United States, including money laundering, as he is accused of leading the First Uruguay Cartel. Additionally, he is wanted in Paraguay and Bolivia for organized crime linked to cocaine trafficking across South America and Europe.
Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz Pereira referred to Marcet’s arrest as a significant victory against organized crime in the region.
“One of the four biggest drug traffickers on the continent has been caught,” President Paz stated. “This is a pivotal moment in our battle against organized crime and reinforces our commitment to tackle the mafia both locally and internationally.”
Marcet’s criminal history dates back to 2013 when he was first arrested for drug trafficking; he spent several years in a Uruguayan prison before his release in 2019. In 2021, he was briefly detained in Dubai for using a fake Paraguayan passport but managed to leave the UAE with a new passport.
He is also tied to the assassination of Paraguay’s top prosecutor, Marcelo Pecci, although he has not been charged in that case. Pecci was killed on a Colombian beach during his honeymoon in 2022.
With this latest arrest, it appears that Marcet’s criminal activities, which he referred to himself as the “King of the South,” are finally coming to an end.
“Sebastian Marcet’s reign of terror is over,” the DEA announced. They expressed gratitude for Bolivia’s cooperation in the operation.
