The U.S. Department of State's Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs has announced a reward offer under the Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program (TOCRP). The offer is for up to $2 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction, in any country, of Uruguayan narcotics trafficker and money launderer Sebastian Marset.
In conjunction with this announcement, the Department of Justice has unsealed an indictment charging Marset with money laundering. These charges are related to the movement of drug proceeds through U.S. financial institutions. Marset is also a fugitive wanted in the Southern Cone of South America, facing organized crime charges in Paraguay and Bolivia. In August 2023, Bolivian authorities offered a separate $100,000 reward for his arrest.
This TOCRP reward follows Operation A Ultranza Py, which is considered the largest organized crime investigation against cocaine trafficking in Paraguayan history. This operation linked a network led by Marset to over 16 tons of cocaine seized in Europe, including an 11-ton seizure at Antwerp's port in April 2021 and another 4.7-ton seizure in Paraguay. The investigation was conducted with cooperation from Paraguay’s Special Investigative Unit and Anti-Drug Secretariat (SIU-SENAD), the Uruguayan Interior Ministry, Europol, and the DEA Asuncion Country Office.
For those with information on Marset's activities, contact can be made via email at MarsetTips@dea.gov or through local DEA offices within the United States. The U.S. government encourages individuals with direct knowledge of Marset’s drug trafficking or money laundering activities to use these channels.
The Secretary authorized today’s reward offer under TOCRP to support global law enforcement efforts against transnational crime and bring fugitives like Marset to justice.
"ALL IDENTITIES ARE KEPT STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL," stated Tammy Bruce from the State Department. It was also noted that government officials and employees are not eligible for rewards.