Marset Case: Prosecution Reopens Investigation into Police and Arrests Colonel Ferrufino
Prosecutor Jimmy López confirmed the reopening of the case due to irregularities in the operation to capture Marset. Colonel Ferrufino faces five alleged crimes.
Fresh Evidence Reactivates Marset Case: Felcc Colonel Arrested in Santa Cruz
El Deber reports that the Bolivian Prosecution has reopened the investigation into the police officers who participated in the operation to capture Uruguayan drug trafficker Sebastián Marset, following the emergence of fresh evidence and the arrest of Lieutenant Colonel Juan Marcelo Ferrufino Rojas, national director of Intelligence of the Special Force to Combat Crime (Felcc).
The departmental prosecutor of Santa Cruz, Jimmy López, confirmed that the complaint had been rejected in an initial instance, but that recent evidence allows the investigation to resume. "With these new findings, the case is going to be reopened and the investigation is going to begin to develop," López stated.
Background: Luxury Watches and an Unreported Safe
The criminal investigation was initiated in April, following the discovery of a third safe belonging to Marset that contained luxury watches allegedly not reported to the Prosecution. The case was closed weeks later when insufficient evidence was found against the police officers involved, and after the safe with the watches was formally handed over to the Public Ministry.
The reopening is now linked to the alleged irregularities that occurred during the removal of suitcases and other objects from the residence where Marset was captured on 13 March 2026, in Santa Cruz. The investigation seeks to clarify what happened to these assets, following allegations regarding the alleged disappearance of money and valuable objects.
Five Crimes Against Ferrufino
On 23 October, the Public Ministry issued an arrest warrant against Ferrufino for the alleged crimes of embezzlement, breach of duty, theft, extortion and passive bribery. Additionally, there are two arrest warrants against two other colonels who participated in the capture of the drug trafficker.
The judicial document also mentions police officers Óscar Fernando Moreno Moreno and Erik Salvador Correa Gonzales, although the warrant specifically provides for the arrest of Ferrufino.
López indicated that the arrested person will be questioned and subsequently placed at the disposal of a bail judge, who will have to resolve their legal situation.
Confidentiality of the Investigation and Territorial Jurisdiction
When asked about possible involvement of other police officers or witnesses, and about potential surveillance camera recordings, the departmental prosecutor stated that these matters fall under the knowledge of the commission of prosecutors assigned to the case. Given that the investigation is ongoing, the necessary confidentiality will be maintained until sufficient evidence is available to make decisions.
Regarding territorial jurisdiction, López clarified that if the investigation was opened in La Paz, the judicial oversight corresponds to a judge of that jurisdiction, even though part of the facts under investigation is related to the operation carried out in Santa Cruz.
The reopening of the proceedings seeks to determine whether there are criminal responsibilities for the alleged irregularities committed during and after the capture of Marset. The specific participation of each accused party must be established over the course of the investigation.
Source: El Deber