In a rare press conference held on Thursday, the Cuban government vehemently denied any involvement with drug trafficking. This move comes as a response to the explosive claims made by Hugo "El Pollo" Carvajal, the former head of Intelligence for Nicolás Maduro. Carvajal had directly implicated Havana in the strategy of the Cartel of the Suns.
The official statements emerge amid heightened regional tensions and increased U.S. military presence in the Caribbean. During the press meeting at the International Press Center, senior officials from the Ministry of the Interior (MININT) and the Ministry of Justice emphasized that Cuba is neither a producer nor a transit point for drugs. They reiterated the regime's "zero tolerance" policy and highlighted ongoing collaboration with Washington since 2016 to combat drug trafficking.
According to the EFE agency, which covered the event, Cuban officials underscored the real-time information exchange with the U.S. Coast Guard as a significant aspect of this cooperation.
However, the press conference wasn't merely about defending the government's international image. It also served as a direct rebuke to the United States. Colonel Juan Carlos Poey, head of the Anti-Drug Enforcement Unit of MININT, described the current U.S. military deployment in the Caribbean, which focuses on Venezuela, as "a serious threat to Cuba's security and sovereignty."
The specter of Carvajal looms over Havana. The regime's response came just hours after Carvajal's letter to Donald Trump was made public from a federal prison in the U.S. In the letter, the former Venezuelan general claimed that Cuba was the "strategic mastermind" behind Hugo Chávez's plan to use cocaine as a geopolitical weapon against the United States.
As revealed by The Dallas Express, Carvajal's testimony alleges that Cuban agents helped establish the criminal network that evolved into the Cartel of the Suns, orchestrating drug trafficking operations in collaboration with groups like the FARC, ELN, and Hezbollah.
Carvajal's account further accuses Cuba of not only conceiving the strategy but also providing weapons, documents, and intelligence cover to facilitate the operations of these criminal structures from Venezuelan soil.
He also claims that the island infiltrated spies into U.S. naval bases and bribed American diplomats to act as double agents for Caracas and Havana.
While the Cuban regime did not address the letter or Carvajal's name specifically, the defensive tone of the press conference underscores the gravity of the scandal.
Official figures indicate that over two tons of drugs have been seized so far this year, while domestic drug use, particularly among young people, continues to rise—a trend the authorities still frame as a "public order" issue.
Key Questions on Cuba's Drug Trafficking Allegations
What did Hugo "El Pollo" Carvajal claim about Cuba's involvement in drug trafficking?
Carvajal accused Cuba of being the strategic mastermind behind Hugo Chávez's plan to use cocaine as a geopolitical weapon against the United States, alleging that Cuban agents helped establish the Cartel of the Suns.
How has the Cuban government responded to these allegations?
The Cuban government has denied any involvement in drug trafficking, emphasizing its "zero tolerance" policy and cooperation with the United States to combat drug trafficking.
What is the significance of the U.S. military presence in the Caribbean according to Cuba?
Cuba views the U.S. military presence in the Caribbean, particularly focused on Venezuela, as a serious threat to its security and sovereignty.