MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Cuba says it foiled ‘terrorist’ infiltration after shootout with Florida-registered speedboat

Cuban authorities said they seized assault rifles and handguns, along with homemade explosive devices (including Molotov cocktails), plus ballistic vests, telescopic sights and camouflage uniforms

Cuba said on Thursday that a civilian speedboat departing from the United States was attempting “an infiltration for terrorist purposes” when it was intercepted in Cuban territorial waters, in an incident that left four people dead and six wounded among the boat’s occupants, as well as one injured Cuban officer.

According to Cuba’s Interior Ministry, the vessel — registered in Florida as FL7726SH — was detected on Wednesday near Cayo Falcones, in Corralillo municipality, Villa Clara province. The official account says a Cuban Border Guard patrol boat carrying five personnel approached to identify the craft, and that fire was opened “from the offending vessel,” prompting Cuban forces to return fire.

Cuban authorities said they seized assault rifles and handguns, along with homemade explosive devices (including Molotov cocktails), plus ballistic vests, telescopic sights and camouflage uniforms.

The ministry said all six wounded were Cuban nationals residing in the United States and named Amijail Sánchez González and Leordan Enrique Cruz Gómez among them, describing both as linked to terrorism-related cases. It also listed Conrado Galindo Sariol, José Manuel Rodríguez Castelló, Cristian Ernesto Acosta Guevara and Roberto Azcorra Consuegra as wounded.

Cuba identified Michel Ortega Casanova as one of the four people killed, while the identities of three others were still being investigated, it said.

Havana also reported the arrest inside Cuba of Duniel Hernández Santos, whom it described as sent from the United States to facilitate the reception of the armed infiltration, and said he had confessed to his actions.

In Washington, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said it was not a U.S. government operation and that the United States would independently verify what happened. Rubio called shootouts in open sea “highly unusual” and said agencies including the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Coast Guard were involved.

The incident comes amid strained bilateral relations and follows reports of similar episodes in recent years, often tied to irregular departures from the island. Cuba said investigations remain under way to fully clarify the facts.