Bolivian colonel who captured Marset detained for embezzlement and bribery
Colonel Juan Ferrufino, director of Intelligence for the Felcc, was arrested in El Alto. The Public Ministry reopens investigation into irregularities in the 13 March operation.
Three Bolivian colonels investigated over operation that captured Uruguayan drug trafficker Marset
Colonel Juan Marcelo Ferrufino Rojas, national director of Intelligence for the Special Force to Combat Crime (Felcc), was arrested on Friday afternoon in the city of El Alto and transferred to Felcc facilities in La Paz in compliance with an order issued by the Public Ministry, according to ultimahora.com citing Bolivian media outlet El Deber.
The arrest is part of an investigation that involves three colonels of the Bolivian Police who participated in the operation carried out on 13 March in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, when Uruguayan drug trafficker Sebastián Marset was found in a residence in the Las Palmas neighbourhood and subsequently transferred to Viru Viru International Airport for his extradition to the United States, where he remains detained and is being tried before federal justice.
Arrest warrants against three officers
In addition to Ferrufino, the Public Ministry issued arrest warrants against Colonel Óscar Fernando Moreno Moreno, former national chief of Intelligence of the Special Force to Combat Drug Trafficking (Felcn), and Colonel Erik Salvador Correa Gonzales, who also participated in the operation. Moreno went into reserve status, whilst authorities continue proceedings to enforce the outstanding orders against both men.
On 23 October, the Public Ministry issued an arrest warrant against Ferrufino for the alleged offences of embezzlement, breach of duties, theft, extortion and passive bribery.
The video at the airport and mention of the former prosecutor
One of the central elements of the case is a video recorded by the Felcn at Viru Viru airport moments before Marset boarded the plane to the United States. In the footage, Colonel Óscar Moreno, in his capacity as Intelligence chief, interrogates the Uruguayan drug trafficker. During that exchange, Marset states: "Mariaca is my friend, he always warned me, now he didn't warn me", in reference to the then attorney general of the state, Róger Mariaca.
The statement gained relevance in subsequent investigations into the alleged links between the former attorney general and the drug trafficker, although its scope and context must be established within the corresponding proceedings.
Irregularities in removal of goods
The reopened investigation is linked to alleged irregularities in the removal of suitcases and other items from the residence where Marset was captured. The enquiries seek to clarify what happened with those items, following complaints about the alleged disappearance of money and valuable objects.
The case had begun in April, following the discovery of a third safe belonging to Marset that contained luxury watches supposedly not reported to the Public Ministry. The file was initially closed due to insufficient evidence, after the safe containing the watches was handed over weeks later to the Public Ministry.
Public Ministry reopens case due to new evidence
Santa Cruz departmental prosecutor Jimmy López confirmed that new evidence prompted the reopening of the complaint that had previously been rejected. "In light of this new evidence, the case will be reopened and investigation will commence," López stated.
López also noted that statements will be taken from those arrested and new investigative measures will be conducted as part of the criminal proceedings.
Defence calls measures "extreme abuse"
Following the announcement of the arrest warrants, the lawyers for the officers described the measures as "extreme abuse" and warned of risks to the safety of the police officers who participated in Marset's capture. The defence maintains that the situation of the uniformed officers is concerning given their role in the operation that led to the arrest of one of the region's most wanted drug traffickers.
To date, the specific facts that the Public Ministry attributes to each of the three colonels have not been publicly detailed beyond the offences listed in the warrant against Ferrufino.
Marset to stand trial in 2027
Sebastián Marset, who remains detained in the United States, will face trial in January 2027 on charges of money laundering, drug trafficking and narcoterrorism before United States justice. Ferrufino's arrest marks a new chapter in the investigation into the 13 March operation, whilst awaiting official information about the legal situation of the other two colonels involved.
Source: Google News BO — Crime