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From working at a petrol station to using cartel money to fund his football projects, Sebastian Marset became notorious in Uruguay before his drug empire crumbled.
Sebastian Marset’s journey from a petrol station attendant in Uruguay to a notorious drug kingpin and football club financier reads like a script from a thriller.
His aspirations to become a professional footballer were overshadowed by his descent into the criminal underworld, where he cultivated a reputation that intertwined organised crime with the beautiful game.
Growing up in Montevideo, Marset idolised football icons like David Beckham. As a child, he spent his meager earnings on a Beckham track jacket, dreaming of a career on the pitch.
However, his talents on the field proved insufficient for professional success. After struggling in semi-professional leagues, Marset turned to crime, fueled by a desire for wealth and status.
His early run-ins with the law included arrests for possession of stolen goods and narcotics, but these minor infractions marked the beginning of a much darker path.
The shift to organised crime
By the age of 22, Marset had established himself within Montevideo's criminal networks, earning the trust of drug traffickers.
His first significant foray into the drug trade came when he accepted a role to receive a shipment of marijuana. Although the police caught wind of his activities, he showed a calculated demeanour during his arrest, leading officers to suspect he was destined for greater infamy.
Upon his release from prison in 2018, Marset capitalised on the connections he had forged.
He quickly integrated himself into larger criminal enterprises, bridging ties with organised crime syndicates in Brazil and Italy. These alliances would lay the foundation for his burgeoning empire in the drug trade.
In 2021, Marset made his bold entry into football, signing with Deportivo Capiata, a Paraguayan club struggling in the second division.
Arriving in a flashy silver Lamborghini, he instantly commanded attention. Marset’s deep pockets allowed him to offer his teammates substantial financial incentives for victories, a strategy that revealed his intention to leverage football as a cover for his illicit activities.
While he was never officially listed as an owner, Marset funded numerous improvements for the team upgrading training facilities, purchasing new equipment, and even enhancing the players’ diets.
His contributions enabled him to extract revenue from the club while laundering his drug money under the guise of sports investment.
The kingpin's double life
Marset's dual identity became precarious when law enforcement began to catch up with him.
In May 2021, after learning that authorities were closing in, he abruptly ceased training with Deportivo Capiata, removing himself from the spotlight.
His teammates, initially enamored by his wealth and promises, soon realised he was not the asset they had hoped for as the club continued to struggle on the pitch.
Despite his disappearance from Capiata, Marset's involvement in football did not end.
Reports surfaced in that he had relocated to Bolivia, where he allegedly purchased Los Leones El Torno FC. By now, he had fully embraced the persona of a footballer, even wearing the number 23 jersey, echoing Beckham's illustrious Real Madrid days.
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