Expanded Details of Investigation Into Armed Infiltration From the United States
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Cuban authorities revealed expanded findings and confessions from survivors of a neutralized armed infiltration attempt originating from Florida, identifying key organizers, weapons, and planned acts of sabotage.
The complaint regarding the terrorist infiltration attempt neutralized by Border Guard Troops on February 25 in the waters off Villa Clara has reached a second phase. While the initial report, published in late February, covered the primary events and official statements from Cuban authorities, this expansion provides new investigative elements and includes statements from surviving terrorists and subsequently detained co-conspirators.
Transcripts of the material confirm that the incident reaffirms the authorship of terrorist acts against the island, organized and funded from the United States. The vessel originating from Florida was detected 3.7 miles west of Bahía de Cádiz, in the municipality of Corralillo. Those involved departed for Cuba on the night of February 24, divided into two groups of five per vessel. One of the boats broke down after four to five hours of navigation, prompting the crew to transfer weapons and gear to the “Tornado,” which managed to reach Cuba. The voyage was delayed due to the transfer.
MININT Updates on Terrorist Infiltration Attempt in Villa Clara Originating From the United States
According to the narrative, the group reached the channel area near where they were ultimately intercepted after initial detection, experiencing a temporary grounding. When they noticed the Border Guard vessel approaching for identification, they attempted to flee. A pursuit ensued, and as the Border Guard vessel drew close, several individuals aboard the “Tornado” opened fire, striking the commander with two gunshots.
The armed confrontation left five aggressors dead and several detained. The second part of the report emphasizes that confessions from those involved have revealed the scale of a conspiracy organized and financed by a ringleader based in Florida.
“Statements from the accused identified Maritza Lugo Fernández, a Cuban resident in the United States and leader of the self-styled 30th of November Frank País Democratic Party Revolutionary Movement, as the main organizer of this event.”
The investigation revealed that the group carried 11 long guns, 15 handguns, Molotov cocktails, pipe bombs containing explosives, communication devices, walkie-talkies, satellite phones, and a Starlink station. Some participants trained on a property she owns in the United States.
The text identifies individuals detained in Cuba as well as others remaining on U.S. territory, including Leordan Enrique Cruz Gómez, Raúl Manuel Pupo Quevedo, Javier Verovides Rodríguez, Amijail Sánchez González, Duniel Hernández Santos, José Manuel Rodríguez Castelló, Conrado Galindo Sariol, and Cristian Ernesto Acosta Guevara.
Furthermore, Ministry of the Interior investigations reveal that for several years Maritza Lugo has gathered forces to carry out acts of sabotage in Cuba. The suspect herself states in the transcript:
“For more than 40 years that regime has accused me of being a terrorist, of everything they can think of. I have been engaging in activities against the dictatorship in Cuba since I was in Cuba. And when I arrived here in the United States, I started as well.”
During the February infiltration attempt, Amijail Sánchez González and Leordan Enrique Cruz Gómez were captured. Both are listed on the National List of Persons and Entities Designated as Terrorists, backed by UN Security Council Resolution 1373, which obligates member states to prevent and combat such acts.
According to the transcript, Sánchez González promoted and financed Molotov cocktail attacks against the Centro Habana Municipal People's Court and the Provincial CDR headquarters in Havana, as well as the cutting of a fiber optic cable in Sierra de Cubitas, Camagüey, and several fires targeting sugarcane fields and military committee headquarters in Cienfuegos province. Meanwhile, Cruz Gómez recruited Cuban residents in the United States and trained them to execute an armed intervention.
Another individual involved in preparing infiltrations into Cuba, Ardenys García Álvarez, a U.S. resident since 2014, was captured in October 2024 upon arriving on a personal watercraft loaded with weaponry. His plans included building an internal network to attack military units. Alfredo de León Fernández was also arrested in November 2022 during a human smuggling operation.
The report notes that all belong to anti-Cuban organizations based in the United States, such as Nueva Nación Cubana, Cuba Primero, Partido Republicano de Cuba, Escudo Cubano, or Autodefensa del Pueblo, and were recruited through social media.
Confessions from Amijail Sánchez, Leordan Cruz, and Ardenys García have proven key in determining the scope of the conspiracy. However, the investigation's main focus remains on Maritza Lugo Fernández, who continues organizing and funding terrorist actions against Cuban sovereignty from the United States.
“Personally, I live peacefully; I don't worry about what they say, because I am clear and conscious that all of that is a lie. What they are trying to do is distort everything in their own way, as they have always done, because the main terrorists in the world are them, who kill and do whatever they want however they want,” Lugo Fernández stated in the transcript.
The report highlights as significant that individuals and organizations designated as terrorists by Cuban authorities—a matter of public record—can operate with impunity, preparing an armed infiltration with extensive materiel openly within U.S. territory without intervention from authorities.
The accused confessed that their mission upon infiltrating was to seize military units and distribute weapons to the population to organize an uprising against the Cuban government that would trigger a U.S. military intervention. Additionally, Duniel Hernández Santos was detained and stated in his declaration that his self-deportation served the purpose of organizing violent activities for individuals intending to infiltrate by sea. The video notes that the U.S. government has utilized self-deportation as a modus operandi to execute sabotage actions in countries such as Venezuela and now Cuba, leveraging voluntary return to infiltrate individuals for destabilization.
Article 16 of the Cuban Constitution establishes the nation's total rejection of terrorist acts of any nature. Cuba has signed 19 international instruments regarding terrorism, including conventions on explosive devices and counter-terrorism financing.
The Ministry of the Interior maintains maximum alert and warns that no destabilization attempt through violence will be tolerated. It also emphasizes that those in the United States who provided property, arranged transportation, or facilitated the purchase and stockpiling of weaponry commit the crime of terrorism financing.
U.S. authorities have been informed of all investigation details, as gathered evidence has been shared. The investigation remains open.
Key Questions and Answers
1. What occurred on February 25 in Villa Clara waters?
An armed group originating from Florida attempted a maritime infiltration into Cuba. Border Guard Troops detected and neutralized the operation in Cuban territorial waters, north of the Villa Clara cays. The confrontation left five aggressors dead and several detained.
2. Where was the vessel detected and intercepted?
The boat was detected 3.7 miles west of Bahía de Cádiz, in Corralillo. Interception occurred in Cuban territorial waters, one nautical mile north of the Villa Clara cays.
3. How were those involved traveling?
They departed at night on February 24 in two vessels with five people each. One boat broke down after four to five hours; the crew then transferred weapons and gear to the “Tornado,” which continued. The journey was delayed by the transfer and a temporary grounding.
4. How did the confrontation take place?
Upon detecting the Border Guard vessel, the infiltrators tried to flee. A pursuit ensued, and occupants of the “Tornado” opened fire, striking the commander twice.
5. Who is identified as the main organizer?
Statements from the accused point to Maritza Lugo Fernández, a Cuban resident in the U.S. and head of the 30th of November Frank País Democratic Party Revolutionary Movement, as the primary organizer.
6. What weapons and equipment did they carry?
They carried 11 long guns, 15 handguns, Molotov cocktails, pipe bombs, communication devices, walkie-talkies, satellite phones, and a Starlink station.
7. Where was the group trained?
Part of the group trained on a property in the United States. They were also recruited via social media and linked to U.S.-based groups like Nueva Nación Cubana, Cuba Primero, Partido Republicano de Cuba, Escudo Cubano, and Autodefensa del Pueblo.
8. Who is implicated in the plot?
Implicated individuals include Leordan Enrique Cruz Gómez, Raúl Manuel Pupo Quevedo, Javier Verovides Rodríguez, Amijail Sánchez González, Duniel Hernández Santos, José Manuel Rodríguez Castelló, Conrado Galindo Sariol, and Cristian Ernesto Acosta Guevara, alongside Ardenys García Álvarez and Alfredo de León Fernández.
9. Was this a routine illegal immigration attempt?
No. The Attorney General's Office rejects claims of “humanitarian aid” or an innocent civilian vessel, classifying the acts as terrorism and associated high crimes rather than ordinary illegal entry.
10. What charges are being filed?
Invoked Penal Code articles include: Article 151 (acts committed with weapons or explosives), 157 (acts against maritime navigation safety), 162 (other acts threatening air/maritime safety), 167 (terrorism financing), 273 (criminal association), and 276 (illegal possession of firearms).
11. What penalties do these charges carry?
Penalties range from 10 to 15 years imprisonment up to life imprisonment, and potentially the death penalty for maximum severity.
12. How did Border Guard Troops operate?
First Colonel Ybey Carballo Pérez, Chief of Staff of the TGF, stated that performance follows a “moderate, defensive, rational, and proportional” model adhering to national and international standards on maritime force. In this case, five officers engaged ten infiltrators.
13. What was the group's confessed objective?
The accused confessed their plan was to capture military posts, distribute arms, and spark an uprising to induce a U.S. military intervention.
14. What role do U.S. authorities play?
U.S. authorities have been briefed on the investigation details. Cuba denounces that designated terrorist figures organize violent acts from U.S. soil without interference, demanding an end to impunity.
15. What is Cuba's official position?
Article 16 of the Cuban Constitution rejects all forms of terrorism. Cuba is a signatory to international counter-terrorism conventions. The Ministry of the Interior remains on maximum alert, asserting that violent destabilization will not be tolerated while the investigation remains open.
Translated by Sergio A. Paneque Díaz / CubaSí Translation Staff
