Bolivian authorities announced the arrest of alleged Uruguayan drug trafficker Sebastián Marset, one of the most wanted fugitives by US anti-drug authorities, before his transfer to the United States.
The operation took place in the city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivian Interior Minister Marco Antonio Oviedo announced at a press conference. According to him, Marset, 34, was arrested, and no casualties were reported during the operation.
After his arrest, he was flown to the United States, where he faces several charges, including money laundering and involvement in a vast cocaine trafficking network.
Marset is suspected of being the head of the "First Uruguayan Cartel" and is wanted in several South American countries, including Paraguay and Bolivia, for organized crime and drug trafficking between South America and Europe.
Bolivian authorities clarified that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) did not participate directly in the arrest, but was involved in his transfer to the United States.
The Bolivian government recently announced the resumption of its operational cooperation with the DEA after a 17-year hiatus, as part of a regional initiative to strengthen the fight against organized crime.
Bolivian President Rodrigo Paz welcomed Marset's arrest, calling it a major step in the fight against drug trafficking networks in Latin America. He stated that the arrest of this suspect marks a turning point in the fight against international mafias operating in the region.
