Cuban border patrol forces killed four people aboard a Florida-registered speedboat Wednesday after a shootout off the coast of Villa Clara province, Cuban authorities said. Six other individuals were wounded and taken into custody, according to a statement from Cuba’s Interior Ministry.
The incident occurred approximately one nautical mile from Falcones Cay, roughly 120 miles east of Havana, when the speedboat was approached by a five-member Cuban border patrol unit. The ministry alleges that passengers on the speedboat initiated the gunfire, wounding the commander of the Cuban vessel, prompting a response from Cuban forces.
The vessel, identified as bearing Florida registration number FL7726SH, was carrying individuals described by Cuban authorities as “Cuban residents of the United States.” The ministry claims the group was armed with assault rifles, handguns, and Molotov cocktails, and intended to “carry out an infiltration for terrorist purposes” on Cuban soil. One of the deceased was identified as Michel Ortega Casanova.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed he had been briefed on the incident, stating that the operation was not conducted by U.S. Government personnel and that the U.S. Was working to determine if any U.S. Citizens or permanent residents were involved. “We are gathering our own information to determine if the victims were American citizens or permanent residents,” Rubio told reporters.
The incident comes amid heightened tensions between the U.S. And Cuba, and follows the recent capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in Caracas on January 3, a move that removed a key ally of the Cuban government. The U.S. Has also increased economic pressure on Cuba, including blocking oil shipments to the island.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced an investigation into the incident, stating that his office would perform with state and federal law enforcement partners. He expressed skepticism regarding the Cuban government’s account, saying it “could not be trusted.” U.S. Representative Carlos Gimenez, a Republican representing a southern Florida district, called for a federal investigation, accusing Cuba of executing the four individuals and requesting the State Department and military to investigate.
Cuba has a history of skirmishes with speedboats attempting to reach its shores. In 2022, Cuban border patrol killed one suspected smuggler during an interception of 13 speedboats originating from the U.S., according to a Cuban government statement.
Despite decades of largely antagonistic relations, the U.S. And Cuba have previously cooperated on issues such as drug trafficking and human smuggling, particularly during the period of improved relations under the Obama administration. Under existing agreements, the U.S. Coast Guard routinely returns migrants intercepted at sea to Cuba.
The Cuban Interior Ministry stated that national defense is a “fundamental pillar” for safeguarding the country’s sovereignty and stability in the region, reaffirming its commitment to protecting its territorial waters. As of late Wednesday, no further details regarding the ongoing investigation or the identities of the surviving passengers had been released by Cuban authorities.
