Marset Lawyers Challenge DEA Phone Search in US Drug Case

· Investigations · United States · Bolivia

Lawyers for Sebastián Marset, the alleged drug capo known as the "King of the South," have challenged the US Drug Enforcement Administration's search of a phone seized under uncertain circumstances in Bolivia, OCCRP reports. The defense argues the device only entered the court record months after it had already been seized and its data extracted, a timeline that could support arguments the evidence was obtained improperly. Marset faces US drug trafficking charges. The dispute is a procedural fight over chain of custody and the legality of foreign-collected evidence, and its outcome could determine whether key digital material is admissible. It comes as authorities in several countries pursue Marset, who has been the subject of extensive cross-border investigations.

Why it matters：The ruling could set a precedent for how US prosecutors use phone evidence seized abroad in transnational drug cases.

Key points

  • The phone was seized in Bolivia under uncertain circumstances.
  • The defense says it entered the court record months after data was extracted.
  • Marset is known as the "King of the South" and faces US trafficking charges.

Sources (original reporting)

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