The investigation by the Cuban Ministry of the Interior established that 10 armed people were traveling on the boat, who, according to their preliminary statements, had infiltration plans for terrorist purposes.
February 25, 2026 — teleSUR
Cuban authorities thwarted an armed infiltration with terrorist purposes on Wednesday in the northeast area of the El Pino canal, in Cayo Falcones, Corralillo municipality, in the central province of Villa Clara , when occupants of a speedboat coming from the U.S. opened fire after being stopped by a surface unit of the Border Guard Troops of the Ministry of the Interior (Minint).
According to an update from the Ministry of the Interior, the investigation has established that 10 armed individuals were traveling on the neutralized speedboat, registered in Florida as FL7726SH, who, according to preliminary statements from the detainees, intended to carry out an infiltration for terrorist purposes.
As part of the investigation, assault rifles, handguns, homemade explosive devices (Molotov cocktails), bulletproof vests, telescopic sights, and camouflage uniforms were seized .
Among the participants arrested and identified through preliminary interrogations are Amijail Sánchez González, Leordan Enrique Cruz Gómez, Conrado Galindo Sariol, José Manuel Rodríguez Castelló, Cristian Ernesto Acosta Guevara and Roberto Azcorra Consuegra.
Among the deceased was identified Michel Ortega Casanova, while authorities are working to identify three other individuals involved. All participants are Cuban residents of the United States , most with a known history of criminal and violent activity.
According to the Ministry of the Interior, Amijail Sánchez González and Leordan Enrique Cruz Gómez appear on the National List of Persons and Entities that, by virtue of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1373, international law and Cuban legal order, have been subjected to criminal investigations and are wanted by Cuban authorities for their involvement in the promotion, planning, organization, financing, support or commission of actions materialized in the national territory or in other countries, in the context of acts of terrorism.
Additionally, the Ministry of the Interior (Minint) reported the arrest in Costa Rica of Duniel Hernández Santos , a citizen sent from the United States to oversee the reception of the armed infiltration. The Ministry stated that Hernández Santos has confessed to his actions and that the investigation continues to fully clarify the facts.
According to the official report, on Wednesday morning an offending speedboat with a Florida, United States registration (folio FL7726SH) was detected approaching within one nautical mile of the area.
As the Cuban vessel carrying five combatants approached for identification, fire was opened on the Border Guard agents from the offending boat. The unit commander was wounded, prompting a defensive response from the security forces. As a result of the confrontation, four assailants were killed and six were wounded, subsequently evacuated and given medical attention.
In the face of the current challenges and as a result of these events, Cuba has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting its territorial waters , based on the principle that national defense is a fundamental pillar for the Cuban State in order to protect its sovereignty and stability in the region.
Author: teleSUR – odr – DE
Source: Minint Cuba – Cubadebate
