US Prosecutors Say Marset Threatened or Killed Police He Could Not Corrupt

US prosecutors allege that pivotal drug trafficker Sebastián Marset threatened or murdered police officers he was unable to corrupt, according to a filing on September 18, 2026, reported by la diaria. This statement counters Marset's defense, which contends the case is vindictive, as reported by the same source. The Justice Department contends that Marset, a key figure in South America's largest cocaine network, led the First Uruguayan Cartel, shipping cocaine to Europe.

He was captured in Bolivia in March 2026 and extradited to the US, as The Rio Times reported. Paraguay has also sought Marset for alleged drug and money-laundering offenses, including the 2022 murder of prosecutor Marcelo Pecci. Uruguay had not lodged any formal charges against Marset at the time of his capture, which prevented extradition proceedings.

The defense claims Marset’s alleged violence was strategic, used to protect his business and deter others, as per la diaria. Prosecutors assert that his actions fueled his organization's power, maintained his freedom, and intimidated rivals. Investigations allege Marset ordered a grenade attack on Uruguay's anti-drug police headquarters in 2020, and a threatening message and grenade attack on anti-drug prosecutor Mónica Ferrero in September 2025, with the latter incident suspected to involve a local gang, as reported by Infobae.

A superseding indictment filed in June added narcotics terrorism, cocaine, and money-laundering charges to the laundering count. Judge Rossie Alston Jr. set the trial for January 11, 2027, according to OCCRP. Marset denies all charges and claims DEA agents attempted to extort him for approximately $4 million in cryptocurrency. The reported violence allegations have not yet been tested in court, and Marset remains presumed innocent until proven otherwise in a legal setting.

The court has not yet addressed the defense motions, and Paraguay's plans to pursue its own charges remain uncertain. No charges have been filed against Marset in Paraguay, and the trial date for the federal court in Virginia remains January 2027. Paraguay is also pursuing its own cases against him. No. Marset pleaded not guilty, and his guilt has not been established in court.