A team from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has traveled to Cuba to investigate a deadly February shootout between the Cuban coast guard and a U.S.-registered speedboat, a U.S. Embassy official confirmed on Wednesday.
The technical team arrived on Tuesday as part of what officials described as a “thorough and independent investigation” into the maritime incident. The visit comes at a time of heightened tensions between United States and Cuba, amid ongoing policy disputes and economic pressure measures.
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The February 25 confrontation resulted in the deaths of five crew members aboard the Florida-registered vessel. Cuban authorities have charged the five surviving individuals with terrorism, alleging that they were armed and intended to destabilize the government in Havana.
According to Cuban officials, the incident occurred in Cuban territorial waters after a coast guard vessel approached the speedboat and requested identification. Authorities claim the occupants of the vessel opened fire, prompting an armed response.
Details surrounding the FBI’s presence remain limited, with U.S. officials declining to elaborate on the scope or duration of the investigation.
However, remarks previously made by Marco Rubio suggest that Washington is seeking to independently verify the circumstances of the incident.
“The majority of the facts being publicly reported are those provided by the Cubans,” Rubio said in February. “We will verify that independently… and then respond accordingly.”
Cuban authorities have stated that all 10 individuals involved in the incident are Cuban nationals residing in the United States, adding that most have prior criminal records. At least two of the suspects are believed to be U.S. citizens, according to American officials.
The investigation is expected to play a key role in clarifying the events surrounding the confrontation, which has further strained already fragile relations between the two countries.
