Sebastian Marset, Alleged Drug Trafficker, Faces U.S. Charges

Sebastian Marset, a 35-year-old Uruguayan, has been accused of being a significant drug trafficker, allegedly shipping over 10 tons of cocaine from South America to Europe. He led a criminal organization known as the "Primer Cartel Uruguayo" and has been compared to Pablo Escobar in some media reports. However, there is limited evidence that Marset ever sent cocaine to the United States. Marset has been detained in Alexandria, Virginia, since his capture in March 2025, initially facing charges of money laundering, which have since expanded to include conspiracy to smuggle cocaine and narco-terrorism. His legal team argues that the U.S. lacks jurisdiction to prosecute him, as he has not been shown to have sent drugs to the U.S. They assert that the prosecution is an overreach of the Department of Justice's authority. Marset claims he was arrested under violent circumstances in Bolivia and has expressed confusion about his prosecution in the U.S. His attorneys maintain that the evidence against him is weak, particularly regarding a wire transfer that allegedly ties him to the U.S. financial system. Marset's case has drawn attention to the U.S. government's approach to drug trafficking and its implications for international law enforcement. A hearing is scheduled to determine the validity of the charges against him.