Four people were killed and six injured in a confrontation between Cuban Border Guard Troops and the occupants of a Florida-registered speedboat on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, according to the Cuban Ministry of the Interior.
The incident occurred near the El Pino channel, in Cayo Falcones, within the municipality of Corralillo, Villa Clara province, when the speedboat approached Cuban territorial waters to within one nautical mile, the ministry stated. Cuban authorities allege that individuals aboard the vessel opened fire on the border patrol, wounding the commander of the Cuban boat.
The Cuban government identified the ten people on board as armed Cubans residing in the United States, claiming they were attempting to infiltrate the island “for terrorist purposes.” According to officials, the group was equipped with assault rifles, handguns, Molotov cocktails, bulletproof vests, and camouflage uniforms.
Those killed have been identified as Michel Ortega Casanova, while Amijail Sánchez González, Leordan Enrique Cruz Gómez, Conrado Galindo Sariol, José Manuel Rodríguez Castelló, Cristian Ernesto Acosta Guevara, and Roberto Azcorra Consuegra were injured and taken into custody, the Ministry of the Interior reported.
However, Roberto Azcorra Consuegra, listed among those involved, told NBC6 that he is currently in Miami and was surprised to learn his name was included in the government’s statement.
The speedboat is registered in Florida under the number FL7726SH. The Cuban government has not released further details regarding the alleged planned “terrorist infiltration,” and the claims have not been independently verified by U.S. Authorities.
Duniel Hernández Santos, a Cuban national, was also arrested on the island, accused of being sent from the U.S. To facilitate the reception of the armed group, according to the Ministry of the Interior.
As of Friday, February 27, 2026, the U.S. State Department has not issued a public statement regarding the incident or the allegations made by the Cuban government.
