Havana, February 26, 2026. – Yesterday, our authorities reported an attempted infiltration for terrorist purposes by 10 individuals in a vessel with a Florida state registration from the United States.
From the very moment the naval means was detected as coming from U.S. territory, Cuban authorities have maintained communication with their U.S. counterparts, including the State Department and the Coast Guard, regarding this terrorist attempt. A rigorous investigative process is underway to clarify the facts. The Cuban government is willing to exchange views with the U.S. government on this incident.
Among other requests, we will seek information from U.S. authorities about those involved, the means used, and other details, through existing mechanisms between the two countries.
U.S. government authorities have shown a willingness to cooperate in clarifying these regrettable events.
It is pertinent to specify that the 10 individuals involved in the incident are the following: Cristian Ernesto Acosta Guevara, Conrado Galindo Serrior, José Manuel Rodríguez Castelló, Leordán Cruz Gomez, Amijail Sanchez Gonzalez, Roberto Alvarez Avila and Pavel Alling Peña, Michael Ortega Casanova, Ledián Padrón Guevara and Hector Duani Cruz Correa, the latter four deceased.
In initial information, Rolando Roberto Ascorra Consuegra was mentioned by mistake due to an identification error; he is not part of the group, although he is a person known for his track record linked to violent actions and intentions against Cuba.
As already reported, among the items seized from the vessel are weapons. These include assault rifles, sniper rifles, pistols, Molotov cocktails, multiple assault gear including night vision equipment, bulletproof vests, assault bayonets, camouflage clothing, ammunition of various calibers, combat rations, communication devices, and a significant number of patches from counterrevolutionary terrorist organizations. This information remains preliminary. Further details will be provided in the coming days.
This is not an isolated act.
Cuba has been the victim of aggression and countless terrorist acts for over 60 years, most of them organized, financed, and carried out from U.S. territory.
In recent years, Cuban authorities have denounced the increase in violent and terrorist plans and actions against Cuba, as well as the prevailing sense of impunity among organizers and perpetrators due to inaction against them. Cuban authorities have regularly shared with the U.S. government information about individuals who in recent years have been dedicated to promoting, financing, and organizing violent and terrorist acts against Cuba.
This information includes the national list of individuals and entities that have been subjected to criminal investigations and are wanted by Cuban authorities based on their links to acts of terrorism. This list is drawn up in accordance with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1373, the norms and principles of international law, and national legislation.
Two of the perpetrators, Amijail Sánchez González and Leordan Enrique Cruz Gómez, are included on that list, which was shared with the United States in 2023 and 2025, and they enjoyed impunity on U.S. soil. The Cuban government is still awaiting responses to requests for information about them and the rest of the individuals and organizations included in the list issued.
Anti-Cuban groups operating in the United States resort to terrorism as an expression of their hatred of Cuba and the impunity they believe they enjoy.
Cuba reaffirms its absolute and categorical commitment against all terrorist acts, methods, and practices in all their forms and manifestations.
Our country maintains an exemplary performance in confronting terrorism and has fulfilled, and will continue to honor, the commitments it has undertaken in this area. Cuba is a party to 19 international counter-terrorism conventions, in accordance with which it has enacted legal and institutional measures aimed at effectively combating this scourge. Cuba has the duty and responsibility to protect its territorial waters.
Our performance is consistent with international law, which assists all countries, including the United States itself. It is also part of the Cuban state’s national defense as an indispensable pillar for protecting our sovereignty, the life, safety, and well-being of Cubans.