We look at an episode that sparked intense political tension in Uruguay, centering on a powerful regional drug trafficker who wore a disguise as a football player. The case touched the administration of President Luis Lacalle Pou and cast a long shadow over Uruguay’s political life. The figure at the heart of the controversy, Marset, is described as 32 years old and connected not only to the so-called First Uruguayan Cartel but also to a series of crimes that raised questions about how public officials interact with criminal networks. The killing of Paraguayan prosecutor Marcelo Pecci in Colombian territory in May 2022 brought international attention to his activities. After an arrest attempt in Dubai, Marset traveled under false documents toward Turkey, with his Uruguayan passport becoming a pivotal point in the case, according to his attorney. The passport, it was claimed, was processed in Montevideo, and that decision allowed the suspect to move through international borders. He remained on the run for two years, last tracked to Santa Cruz, Bolivia, where authorities mounted a major operation that was thwarted as Marset vanished from sight again.
The Marset affair created a turbulent moment for the Lacalle Pou administration. A local weekly identified that the passport had been issued directly by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a revelation that escalated the crisis. As the case intensified, the government saw high-level resignations: the foreign minister Francisco Bustillo and Undersecretary Carolina Ache stepped down, followed by Interior Minister Luis Alberto Heber, Undersecretary Guillermo Maciel, and presidential adviser Roberto Lafluf, all tied to advice given to delete conversations about Marset on official devices.
In a public moment, President Lacalle Pou expressed that officials who resigned in the department linked to drug trafficking bore no legal responsibility, arguing that the law obligated the passport’s issuance. He spoke from the United States, attempting to clarify the legal basis for the actions. The Broad Front coalition, a center-left opposition, disputed that stance. Senator Alejandro Sánchez warned of a crucial mismatch between accepting resignations and declaring that nothing happened. The coalition pushed for the House of Representatives to decide swiftly on the matter, while politician Fernando Pereira urged caution and reinforced the call to prevent drug trafficking from influencing politics. The PIT-CNT labor union called for broad civic action to defend democracy and oppose corruption.
“Stupid” and “abnormal”
When the first details of the scandal emerged, officials said they did not know who Marset was. A subsequent audio conversation disclosed by Deputy Minister Maciel described the case as a dangerous and intense drug operation. In that recording, then-Chancellor Bustillo allegedly advised his subordinate to disable his mobile phone. This exchange sparked a vigorous confrontation within the government, with Bustillo labeling Maciel as “stupid” and “abnormal” for revealing the messages. The outgoing deputy minister defended his actions as honest and responsible.
The case eventually reached the courtroom, where Prosecutor Alejandro Machado questioned Marset’s lawyer, Balbi, about the passport processing at the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the National Civilian Identity Directorate. Balbi argued that everything appeared to follow the normal legal framework, later describing the situation as resembling a bad Venezuelan drama while officials insisted they did not fully understand what had occurred.
Narcotic and football player
On the public screen, Marset’s image shifted to a surprising identity: a football player. He was seen in Capiatá, a Paraguayan league town, posing as Luis Amorim. When this alias surfaced, he fled to Bolivia, where he played for Los Leones under the name Gabriel De Souza Beumer.
Living a life of luxury in Santa Cruz, Marset attended training sessions with high-end gear and security detail. In July, a police operation attempted to seize him at a Santa Cruz property. Authorities recovered 17 rifles, a pistol, nearly 2,000 rounds of ammunition, protective vests, and 31 vehicles. Bolivian officials promised ongoing efforts to detain him, and the search continued as authorities coordinated international inquiries.