Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, known as "El Cangrejo" and the grandson of former Cuban leader Raúl Castro, undertook at least 25 private jet flights to Panama between 2024 and 2025. These flights were conducted using an aircraft linked to Cuba's military elite.
Documents obtained by Martí Noticias in partnership with Panama's La Prensa and the Foundation for Human Rights in Cuba reveal that the aircraft involved was a Dassault Falcon 900 EX. The plane's registration was altered from a Venezuelan identification to that of San Marino, allegedly to complicate its international tracking, according to journalistic investigation sources.
Rodríguez Castro, son of the late General Luis Alberto Rodríguez López-Calleja—former head of the military conglomerate GAESA—and Débora Castro Espín, Raúl Castro's eldest daughter, has been seen at official events as part of his grandfather's personal security detail. Raúl Castro is believed to still wield real power in Cuba.
Martí Noticias accessed a photograph of a diplomatic passport used by Rodríguez Castro for these travels, granting him immunity and easing his passage through international borders without stringent inspections.
“He uses diplomatic passports because they allow him to travel anywhere with protection, granting him immunity and complicating the tracking of his movements or activities abroad,” explained Luis Domínguez, an investigator with the Foundation for Human Rights in Cuba, to the media outlet.
Domínguez further noted that such documents provide legal privileges and preferential access at airports and international checkpoints, minimizing the chance of officially recording his arrivals and departures.
Flight manifests list several high-ranking GAESA officials among Rodríguez Castro's travel companions, including Ania Guillermina Lastres Moreras, GAESA's president. Also identified were Ismael Rodríguez Díaz, noted as her husband; Javier Michel Sosa Paneque, along with other members of his military aide team.
Domínguez also confirmed the presence of Vilmita Rodríguez Castro, the "Cangrejo's" sister, on some flights. “These leaders believed themselves to be untouchable because they could conceal information. That’s no longer the case,” the investigator asserted.
The analyzed itineraries feature routes between Havana and Panama City, with stopovers or extensions to Caracas and other regional destinations.
According to Domínguez, these trips are likely related to business activities, acquisitions, and investments.
Insights on Private Jet Travels of Cuban Elite
Why did Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro travel frequently to Panama?
The frequent trips to Panama are believed to be connected to business ventures, acquisitions, and investments.
What privileges does a diplomatic passport provide?
A diplomatic passport grants the holder immunity and facilitates movement across borders without stringent inspections, offering legal privileges and preferential access at international checkpoints.
Who are some of the known associates traveling with Rodríguez Castro?
Traveling with Rodríguez Castro were several high-ranking GAESA officials, including Ania Guillermina Lastres Moreras and Ismael Rodríguez Díaz, among others.