Cuban border patrol forces killed four people aboard a speedboat traveling from Florida on Wednesday, according to a statement released by Cuba’s Ministry of the Interior. The incident, which occurred off the coast of Cayo Falcones in Villa Clara province, has prompted an investigation by Florida authorities and drawn a cautious response from the U.S. Government.
The Cuban Ministry of the Interior alleges that the occupants of the Florida-registered vessel initiated the gunfire after being approached by border guards for identification. “The crew of the violating speedboat opened fire on the Cuban personnel, resulting in the injury of the commander of the Cuban vessel,” the ministry stated. Four people on the boat were killed, and six were injured in the ensuing exchange, the ministry reported. One of the deceased has been identified as Michel Ortega Casanova.
Authorities have identified the six individuals detained from the boat as Cuban residents of the United States: Amijail Sánchez González, Leordan Enrique Cruz Gómez, Conrado Galindo Sariol, José Manuel Rodríguez Castelló, Cristian Ernesto Acosta Guevara, and Roberto Azcorra Consuegra. The ministry claims the group was attempting “an infiltration for terrorist purposes,” transporting firearms, Molotov cocktails, bulletproof vests, and camouflage equipment. A seventh individual, Duniel Hernández Santos, was arrested within Cuba, accused of being sent from the United States to assist the group upon arrival.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced that his office would launch a probe into the shooting. “I’ve directed the Office of Statewide Prosecution to work with our federal, state, and law enforcement partners to begin an investigation,” Uthmeier said in a social media post. “The Cuban government cannot be trusted, and we will do everything in our power to hold these communists accountable.”
U.S. Vice President JD Vance stated the U.S. Government is “monitoring” the situation, adding he had discussed the incident with Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Rubio, speaking at the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) conference in St Kitts, denied any U.S. Government involvement in the incident. “Suffice it to say, it is highly unusual to see shootouts in open sea like that,” Rubio said. “It’s not something that happens every day. It’s something frankly that hasn’t happened with Cuba in a very long time.”
The incident occurs amid heightened tensions between the U.S. And Cuba. In January, U.S. President Donald Trump authorized a military operation to apprehend Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, prompting concerns about potential U.S. Intervention in the region. Following the Venezuela operation, the U.S. Announced it would cut off supplies of Venezuelan money and oil to Cuba and imposed an oil blockade on the island, accusing Cuba of representing an “unusual and extraordinary threat” due to its ties with countries like Iran, China, and Russia.
Cuba has a history of violent confrontations with vessels approaching its shores. In June 2022, Cuban authorities reported two separate shootouts involving speedboats allegedly smuggling Cuban citizens abroad, resulting in one officer injured and one person on board a speedboat killed. The Cuban government has consistently framed such incidents as necessary to protect its territorial sovereignty, and stability.
The U.S. Coast Guard has been deployed to the area, according to Secretary of State Rubio. U.S. Officials are seeking access to those on board the vessel to determine their citizenship and gather further details about the incident. As of Wednesday evening, the investigation remains ongoing.
