The U.S. is reportedly on the brink of indicting Raul Castro, the former Cuban President, for his alleged involvement in the downing of two planes three decades ago. This potential legal move, however, hinges on approval from a grand jury.
The focus of this anticipated indictment is the tragic 1996 incident, where planes operated by the humanitarian organization Brothers to the Rescue were shot down. This event, as reported by CBS News, led to the deaths of four men.
The planes were on a mission over the Florida Straits, tasked with identifying Cubans attempting to escape communism in makeshift boats. The group would then communicate these locations to the U.S. Coast Guard for rescue operations.
Adding to the gravity of the situation, NBC Miami reports the existence of a 12-minute recording, allegedly capturing Castro discussing plans for the attack and its subsequent execution.
In March, Florida’s Attorney General announced a renewed state investigation into the plane downing, a move welcomed by the victims’ families who continue to seek justice.
Mirita Mendez, whose younger brother Carlos Costa was killed in the incident, expressed her desire for justice, saying, “At this point, yeah, it’d be great if they could bring him and whatever he has left in his life, spend it in prison.”
Raul, 94, formally stepped down as the leader of Cuba’s Communist Party in 2021, but he is still widely seen as one of the most powerful figures in the country.
The indictment comes as the US continues to put pressure on the Cuban government.
Former Cuban President Raul Castro, 94, is pictured at a celebration on May 1
US President Donald Trump (pictured in China on Thursday) has pressed for major reforms in Cuba and has even floated a ‘friendly takeover’ of the communist country
US President Donald Trump has pressed for major reforms in the communist country and has even floated a ‘friendly takeover’ of Cuba.
The Trump administration has also threatened tariffs on any country that sells or supplies oil to Cuba, leading to energy shortages as oil shipments are largely cut off.
Amid the threat, CIA Director John Ratcliffe met with Cuban officials – including Castro’s grandson – on Thursday.
Ratcliffe met with Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, Interior Minister Lázaro Álvarez Casas and the head of Cuban intelligence services, and discussed intelligence cooperation, economic stability and security issues.
The CIA director was there ‘to personally deliver President Donald Trump´s message that the United States is prepared to seriously engage on economic and security issues, but only if Cuba makes fundamental changes,” the CIA official said.
An official statement from Cuba’s government noted that Thursday’s meeting ‘took place … against a backdrop of complex bilateral relations.’
Raul formally stepped down as the leader of Cuba’s Communist Party in 2021
While the US stressed that Cuba cannot continue to be a ‘safe haven for adversaries in the Western Hemisphere,’ the Cuban delegation insisted that the island presents no threat to US security. Cuban officials also took issue with the nation’s continued inclusion on the US list of state sponsors of terrorism.
Rodríguez Castro also previously secretly with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of a Caribbean Community summit in St. Kitts in February. While he´s never occupied a government post, he served as his grandfather´s bodyguard and later as head of Cuba´s equivalent of the Secret Service.
US and Cuban officials also met earlier this year in Cuba.
But Miami’s top federal prosecutor has also spearheaded a new initiative targeting Cuban communist leaders over economic crimes, drugs, violent crimes and immigration-related violations – specifically focusing on Communist Party leaders.
Florida Republican Senator Rick Scott has also recently called on the Department of Justice to charge Castro and bring him to justice in the US.
The Daily Mail has reached out to the Justice Department for comment.
