Cuba Reports Deadly Speedboat Incident Involving Armed U.S. Residents
The Cuban government has announced that a violent confrontation occurred in its territorial waters, resulting in four fatalities and six injuries. According to authorities, the incident involved a speedboat registered in Florida that entered Cuban waters and initiated gunfire against Cuban soldiers, wounding one officer.
Details of the Infiltration Attempt
In a statement released late Wednesday, Cuba's Interior Ministry revealed that the boat was carrying ten individuals, most of whom "have a known history of criminal and violent activity." The government asserts that these were armed Cubans residing in the United States who were attempting to infiltrate the island. The shootout took place approximately 1.6 kilometers north of Cayo Falcones, off Cuba's northern coast.
Cuban officials emphasized that their actions were aimed at "safeguarding its sovereignty and ensuring stability in the region." The investigation is ongoing, with details emerging from suspects detained after the exchange of fire.
Identification of Passengers and U.S. Response
The Cuban government has identified several individuals involved in the incident:
- Amijail Sanchez Gonzalez and Leordan Enrique Cruz Gomez, who are wanted by Cuban authorities for alleged terrorism-related activities.
- Duniel Hernandez Santos, arrested and reportedly confessed to being sent from the United States to facilitate the armed infiltration.
- Other named passengers include Conrado Galindo Sariol, Jose Manuel Rodriguez Castello, Cristian Ernesto Acosta Guevara, and Roberto Azcorra Consuegra.
- Michel Ortega Casanova was among those killed, while three others remain unidentified.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio addressed the situation, noting that the United States is gathering its own information to determine if the victims were American citizens or permanent residents. "We have various different elements of the U.S. government that are trying to identify elements of the story that may not be provided to us now," Rubio stated during a regional summit in St. Kitts.
Unusual Nature of the Incident and Historical Context
Rubio described the shootout as "highly unusual" and emphasized that such events have not occurred with Cuba in a very long time. He clarified that this was not a U.S. government operation and refrained from speculating on the boat's purpose or the circumstances leading to the violence. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Coast Guard are actively investigating the matter.
In a related development, an interview from June 2025 with Conrado Galindo Sariol, one of the identified passengers, surfaced. In the conversation with Marti Noticias, Galindo expressed a desire to support Cubans struggling for freedom, particularly in the eastern part of the island. He claimed that protests at the time were "not a spark that's going to be extinguished" and criticized the Cuban regime's efforts to suppress dissent.
The Cuban government maintains that it acted in self-defense and continues to probe the motives behind the infiltration attempt. This incident highlights ongoing tensions between Cuba and some segments of the Cuban diaspora in the United States, raising questions about cross-border security and diplomatic relations.
