Lt. Col. Ferrufino detained for theft at Marset's home following narco's capture in Santa Cruz
Lieutenant Colonel Juan Ferrufino, who led the capture of drug trafficker Sebastián Marset, has been arrested on suspicion of stealing millions from the Uruguayan's residence.
Police officer who captured Marset faces charges over alleged theft of $us 4 million
The case of the capture of drug trafficker Sebastián Marset took an unexpected turn, according to opinion.com.bo: Lieutenant Colonel Juan Marcelo Ferrufino, former national director of intelligence for the Bolivian Police and one of the chiefs of the operation that arrested the Uruguayan drug lord on 13 March 2026 in Santa Cruz, was arrested this Friday on suspicion of having removed goods from the property where Marset was captured.
Ferrufino was transferred to facilities of the Special Force to Combat Crime (Felcc) in La Paz, in compliance with an arrest warrant issued by the Public Ministry on 23 October. The crimes attributed to him include embezzlement, dereliction of duty, theft, extortion and passive bribery.
Prosecution reopens a previously archived investigation
The departmental prosecutor of Santa Cruz, Jimmy López, confirmed the reopening of a case file that had previously been archived. "In light of this new evidence, the case is going to be reopened and the investigation will begin to be developed," López stated.
The criminal investigation was initiated in April, following the discovery of a third safe belonging to Marset that contained luxury watches that were supposedly not reported to the prosecution. This week, a video circulated on social media showing people removing suitcases from the property where the Uruguayan drug trafficker resided.
The text accompanying the recording indicates that "the suitcases removed by the team contained $us 4 million, which were not sent to the US nor declared to the authorities, and they also took a collection of Marset's luxury watches valued in millions. To date, the whereabouts of the money taken from Sebastián Marset's house remains unknown".
A journalistic investigation published by ERBOL on 20 October stated, according to sources related to the case, that at least $us 4 million and other valuable items would have disappeared from the Uruguayan's residence after his capture.
Two colonels also subject to arrest warrants
In addition to Ferrufino, the Public Ministry issued arrest warrants against two other officers who participated in the operation: Colonel Óscar Fernando Moreno Moreno and Lieutenant Colonel Erick Correa González. The State Vice-Presidency reported that the arrest of both is expected to be carried out.
The court document also mentions in the proceedings the police officers Óscar Fernando Moreno Moreno and Erik Salvador Correa Gonzales, though the arrest warrant executed to date specifically targets Ferrufino.
Colonel Moreno's defence lawyer, Freddy Velasquez, denied to El Deber any involvement of his client in the disappearance of goods. "Very sad to know that Colonel Moreno is now abandoned, prosecuted and attacked," Velasquez stated.
For her part, activist Nadia Beller identified Lieutenant Colonel Erick Correa González as one of the officers closest to Argentine Fernando Cerimedo.
Next judicial steps
López clarified that the investigation was filed in the city of La Paz, so a cautionary judge in that department will be the one to define Ferrufino's legal situation. The prosecutor indicated that the detained person's statement will first be received and that subsequently he will be placed at the disposal of the corresponding court.
The investigations seek to clarify what happened to the money and valuable objects found in the property where Marset was detained, following complaints about their alleged disappearance during or after the police operation of 13 March 2026.
Source: Google News BO — La Paz