An aviation accident on September 24 in Maiquetía, Venezuela, has uncovered a possible connection between Raúl Castro's grandson, Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, known as El Cangrejo, and the Venezuelan chavismo.
According to an investigation by Armando.Info, in collaboration with the Latin American Center for Investigative Journalism (CLIP), Transparency Venezuela in Exile, and Panama's La Prensa newspaper, the flights of the Learjet 55 YV3440, which crashed that day, reveal a network linking Havana, Caracas, and Panama. This network reportedly involves key figures from both Cuban and Venezuelan power circles.
Prominent among these figures is El Cangrejo, a colonel in the Ministry of the Interior and chief bodyguard to his grandfather. Rodríguez Castro was a frequent passenger on the same aircraft that crashed in Maiquetía, an aircraft also used by Ramón Carretero Napolitano, a Panamanian businessman with lucrative contracts with Nicolás Maduro's regime.
During one particular trip in October 2023, Rodríguez Castro traveled from Cuba to Panama, returning the next day on the same plane, now registered with Venezuelan markings.
While a direct link between El Cangrejo and chavismo remains unproven, immigration and flight records reviewed by investigative journalists suggest a persistent association between these spheres of influence.
Carretero, owner of companies such as Corporación Logística del Caribe and Lanvicorp, is a supplier to Maduro's regime and has operated in Cuba since 1996, associated with the Grupo de Administración Empresarial S.A. (GAESA), the military conglomerate overseen by the Castro family.
On another flight, on May 1, 2024, El Cangrejo traveled to Panama with Ania Guillermina Lastres Morera, a brigadier general and current president of GAESA, just four days prior to the presidential elections in that country. Investigators believe the timing and business connections reinforce the theory of an "air bridge" of political and economic interests linking Havana, Caracas, and Panama.
The case also involves Edwin Abel Pitty Madrid, the current Panamanian ambassador to Cuba, who was once a director at the Carretero Group and legal representative for Corporación Logística del Caribe.
Armando.Info, known for its probing work on corruption, draws a concerning conclusion: Raúl Castro's grandson is not merely a privileged military figure within the Castro regime but also an active participant in a complex web connecting chavismo with the business dealings of Cuba's elite.
Exploring the Connections Between El Cangrejo and Chavismo
What is the significance of the Learjet 55 YV3440 in this investigation?
The Learjet 55 YV3440, which crashed in Venezuela, is significant because its flight routes suggest a network involving key figures from Cuban and Venezuelan power circles, including Raúl Castro's grandson, El Cangrejo.
Who is Ramón Carretero Napolitano and what is his role?
Ramón Carretero Napolitano is a Panamanian businessman involved in lucrative contracts with Nicolás Maduro's regime. He is connected to the same flights that El Cangrejo frequently used, indicating a potential link between Cuban and Venezuelan interests.
How does GAESA play a role in this investigation?
GAESA, a military conglomerate controlled by the Castro family, is linked to the investigation through its president, Ania Guillermina Lastres Morera, who traveled with El Cangrejo. The organization's business interests are part of the suspected political and economic ties across the region.