The official stated that this includes the network operated by drug trafficker Sebastian Marset, currently imprisoned in the United States awaiting trial after being extradited from Bolivia.

“We are investigating the money trail,” the minister stated when asked about the movements of the Uruguayan drug trafficker.

“We have decided to focus primarily on combating drug trafficking by targeting its weakest link, which is money,” Negro told the press.

He added that the ongoing intelligence investigations are confidential.

In 2025, Uruguay registered a record 1,080 reports of suspicious money laundering transactions, with an upward trend since 2021, highlighting drug trafficking and smuggling as the main predicate offenses.

President Yamandu Orsi’s administration is implementing a strategy that includes legal and legislative reforms to strengthen oversight in sectors such as finance, real estate, and cryptocurrencies.

At the same time, it seeks to improve the low conviction rate for money laundering-related offenses.

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