Police captain Ruiz makes statement for 10 hours: Marset's safe was handed to Santa Cruz Public Prosecutor's Office
Captain Guillermo Ruiz Guzmán gave a statement to investigators in La Paz concerning the alleged disappearance of assets from Marset's property. His defence claims the safe was handed over to the Public Prosecutor's Office.
Police captain makes 10-hour statement over missing assets from Marset operation
Police captain Guillermo Ruiz Guzmán appeared for approximately ten hours before investigators at police offices in La Paz, in connection with the case linked to Uruguayan drug trafficker Sebastián Marset. According to El Deber, Ruiz was detained in Sucre and transferred to the capital city to answer questions regarding the alleged disappearance of money and valuables from Marset's property during his arrest on 13 March 2026.
At the conclusion of his statement, his lawyer Zuleika Lanza stated that the safe linked to the operation was handed over to the Public Prosecutor's Office in Santa Cruz. "The famous safe has been handed over to the Public Prosecutor's Office of the city of Santa Cruz," Lanza said, noting that it is the responsibility of the authorities to verify its whereabouts and determine what happened to the assets under investigation.
Defence: Ruiz acted under orders in a classified operation
Lanza argued that her client followed superior orders as part of a classified operation and that he presented documentation which, according to the defence, should be incorporated into the case file. The lawyer added that the officers involved initially did not know the identity of the person at the raided property and learned it was Marset only once inside the premises.
The defence also questioned that the case against Ruiz was initiated on the basis of an audio recording which it described as clandestine, distributed by a media outlet. Lanza announced she would seek her client's outright release, though she noted that his legal situation would depend on actions by the Public Prosecutor's Office and judicial decisions.
Correa named Ruiz in his previous statements
The captain's detention came after statements by lieutenant colonel Erick Correa, who mentioned him in connection with what occurred at Marset's property. Correa indicated that Ruiz remained at the residence alongside other officers whilst he transported the drug trafficker to Viru Viru international airport.
The investigation aims to establish whether suitcases, money or other valuables were taken during the operation, and to determine the degree of involvement of each of the uniformed officers involved.
Defence demands broadening of those summoned
Lanza questioned whether the investigation was concentrated on certain police officers and called for other persons whose names had emerged in the case to be summoned to give statements, without identifying them due to the confidentiality of the proceedings. The lawyer insisted that the investigation must proceed with procedural guarantees for all those involved.
The defence's statements regarding the handover of the safe and Ruiz's conduct represent, for now, the version put forward by his legal representatives. It is for the authorities to verify those facts and establish the corresponding responsibilities.
Source: El Deber