Bolivia Arrests Officer in Marset Cash Probe

BOLIVIA · CRIME AND JUSTICE

A Bolivian police captain is under arrest over cash allegedly taken after the raid that delivered a drug lord to US justice. No court has ruled on the claims, and the accused are presumed innocent.

Bolivian police arrested Captain Guillermo Ruiz on Tuesday, 27 October, in a probe of cash allegedly taken after a drug lord’s arrest. That drug lord, Sebastián Marset, a Uruguayan accused of running a cocaine network, was flown to the US on 13 March.

The case matters to US readers because Marset faces trial in a Virginia federal court on Monday, 11 January 2027. No source reviewed shows that the Bolivian probe has reached that court.

Who Is Captain Ruiz

Ruiz was arrested at his home in Sucre, Bolivia’s constitutional capital, on a warrant, said Martín Arequipa, the regional police commander. He did not resist and was taken to La Paz, where the case is run by the police anti-crime unit Felcc.

Ruiz was the aide to Colonel Óscar Fernando Moreno, then the national director of police intelligence. Erik Correa, a fellow officer who is himself wanted, says from hiding that he saw Ruiz put a suitcase into a vehicle.

Police said Ruiz was giving a statement to investigators after his arrest. His own account has not been made public, and he is presumed innocent.

A Colonel’s Home Is Searched

Prosecutors also searched the home of Colonel Moreno in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, the eastern city where Marset was captured. Anti-corruption prosecutor Fanny Alfaro said what was collected stays confidential while it is processed.

Prosecutors say they are investigating irregularities, including the disappearance of money and valuables from the house where Marset was found. A video that circulated last week shows people, not yet officially identified, carrying suitcases out of that house.

What the Case Alleges

Investigators allege that cash and valuables disappeared from the house after Marset was arrested on 13 March. The sources reviewed give no official amount, and no court has found that any money existed.

On Friday, 23 October, police arrested Colonel Marcelo Ferrufino, a former head of national police intelligence, in the same investigation. Warrants also name Moreno and Correa, who are being sought.

The Marset Case in the United States

Marset was immediately handed to US agents after his capture and has been held in Alexandria, Virginia. Judge Rossie Alston Jr. of the Eastern District of Virginia set his trial for Monday, 11 January 2027.

Prosecutors first charged money laundering, then added drug trafficking and narcoterrorism, a charge tying drug trafficking to terrorist groups. Marset’s lawyers have signalled they will challenge the way he was sent to the United States.

What It Means for US Readers

Washington and La Paz restored anti-drug cooperation this year after about 17 years, and the Marset hand-over was its best-known result. A dispute over missing cash puts that partnership under a spotlight.

For US investors and travellers, the case shows how police integrity shapes the risk of doing business in Bolivia. The Power Index row above shows how the country ranks on its wider standing.

What Is Not Known

It is not known whether any money was taken, how much, or where it is now. No court has ruled on the claims, and the sources reviewed name no charge against Ruiz.

The material seized at Moreno’s home has not been disclosed. Whether Ruiz will be held in custody, and when he will face a judge, is also unknown.

What Comes Next

Ruiz is in police custody in La Paz, and no hearing date has been published. Moreno and Correa remain wanted, and their capture would be the next test for prosecutors.

This does not mean Marset’s US case is in doubt. No source shows the missing cash has reached the Virginia court, and the 11 January 2027 trial date stands.

Earlier reports cover the arrest of Colonel Ferrufino and the judges who resigned after the US visa list. A clash that wounded a Brazilian fugitive is also covered.

The guide to Bolivia’s key players gives background on the actors. The Bolivia hub lists every recent report.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Sebastián Marset?

Marset is a Uruguayan accused of running a cocaine and money-laundering network. Bolivia captured him on 13 March and sent him to the United States.

Who was arrested in Bolivia on 27 October?

Police arrested Captain Guillermo Ruiz in Sucre. He was the aide to Colonel Óscar Fernando Moreno, who helped command the Marset raid.

Is any amount of missing cash confirmed?

No amount is confirmed. Investigators allege cash and valuables vanished, but the sources reviewed give no official figure.

Does this affect Marset’s trial in the US?

The sources reviewed do not show any link yet. His trial before Judge Rossie Alston Jr. is set for 11 January 2027.

Who else is wanted in the case?

Colonel Marcelo Ferrufino was arrested on 23 October. Warrants also name Colonel Moreno and Erik Correa, who are still being sought.

Sources: Los Tiempos (Cochabamba daily), arrest of Captain Ruiz, 27 October; Los Tiempos, raid on Colonel Moreno’s home, 27 October; eju.tv (La Paz news site), 27 October; Correo del Sur (Sucre daily), Ferrufino arrest, 23 October; OCCRP (Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project), trial date, 1 July (all accessed 28 October 2026).