Marset’s defense challenges DEA phone search, raising questions over evidence handling

From the report

Lawyers representing Sebastián Marset, the alleged South American drug trafficker known as the “King of the South,” have challenged the US Drug Enforcement Administration’s (DEA) handling and search of a mobile phone seized in Bolivia. The defense argues that uncertainty surrounding the device’s seizure, transfer to US authorities, and examination raises serious questions about the legality of the evidence being used against him.

According to a defense motion dated October 23, attorneys have asked a federal judge to suspend further examination of the phone until prosecutors clarify how US authorities obtained control of the device and whether the search complied with applicable legal requirements. The motion highlights a potential dispute over the admissibility of digital evidence in a case involving allegations of drug trafficking, money laundering, and narco-terrorism.

Marset, a Uruguayan national, was arrested during a pre-dawn operation in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, in March. Following his arrest, he was expelled to Peru and subsequently transferred to the United States, where he faces federal criminal charges.