A family from Florida, owners of a boat with the registration FL7726SH, which was involved in an armed confrontation in the waters of Villa Clara, Cuba, claims that their vessel was stolen and was never intended for any armed operation.
In an audio message sent to influencer Eliecer Ávila, a close relative of the boat's owner described the vessel as “a completely family-oriented boat” used for fishing and alleged that it was taken by an employee from their company in southern Florida.
“The boat involved in the incident in Cuba belongs to our family. It's a completely family-oriented boat. It’s not a speedboat... it’s a fishing boat,” the individual, who chose to remain anonymous, explained.
“Not a Speedboat” The man emphasized that the official description of it as a “speedboat” does not match the reality of the vessel.
“It’s a small boat, around twenty-four feet,” he elaborated, referring to its approximate length. He described it as a Carolina Skiff model, open and without a cabin, featuring a small central console.
“It’s a flat boat, with no cabin or anything… a completely fishing boat. There’s a small console in the middle, and everything else is completely open,” he detailed.
He highlighted that the boat had only one engine—a newly installed Yamaha 300—which, in his view, contradicts the notion of a planned operation to cross the Florida Straits or engage in an armed action.
“Who crosses the channel with a single engine? People don’t even like going to Bimini with one engine because there’s no backup,” he questioned. “When you’re on a dangerous journey… people use boats with three or four engines.”
He also doubted that ten people could travel in that boat comfortably: “Ten people is too much weight… it’s like a bathtub.”
While acknowledging that the boat was equipped to carry fishing traps and could bear weight, he stressed that its structure was completely exposed. “There’s nowhere to hide on that boat… it’s like a floating straw,” he commented.
From his perspective, the outcome was excessive: “What happened there was a massacre.”
“The Boat Was Stolen” The family asserts that the boat was taken by an employee of their construction company who had access to the keys.
“We have a construction company... the boat was stolen by an employee,” he affirmed, reiterating that he was the only person with access to the boat’s keys.
According to his account, the boat was registered to his father-in-law. The family learned of the incident when police arrived at the home linked to the boat’s registration records, and they began receiving calls from the media.
“My brother just found out… they were in the middle of moving, and the police showed up. Then the media started calling, and we said, ‘What happened?’” he recounted, adding that federal agents were present at the home when he recorded the audio.
“The FBI is currently at my brother’s house,” he confirmed.
The man insisted that no other version is possible: “The boat was stolen. It’s a family boat… that’s one hundred percent guaranteed. There is no truth outside of this.”
He admitted, however, that they don’t know exactly what transpired in Cuban waters or the situation of the employee in question, whose name he did not disclose.
Regarding the employee, he mentioned knowing him as “a noble, quiet, calm person,” but admitted they were unaware of whether he possessed weapons or what his motivations might have been for taking the boat.
Details of the Confrontation
According to an official note from the Ministry of the Interior (MININT), a speedboat with a Florida registration (FL7726SH) was spotted navigating within Cuban waters, approximately one nautical mile northeast of the El Pino channel, in Cayo Falcones, Corralillo municipality, Villa Clara province.
The official report stated that a surface unit of the Border Guard Troops, comprising five personnel, approached the vessel for identification.
At that moment, as per the statement, the “offending” boat opened fire on the Cuban military personnel.
During the exchange of gunfire, the commander of the Cuban vessel was injured. The official report listed four individuals killed on board the boat and six injured, who were evacuated and given medical attention.
Later, authorities identified Michel Ortega Casanova as one of the deceased and claimed that the occupants intended to enter the country with “terrorist purposes.” They also reported the seizure of assault rifles, handguns, incendiary devices, bulletproof vests, and camouflage uniforms.
Among those detained were Amijail Sánchez González and Leordan Enrique Cruz Gómez, whose names are on the list of individuals considered terrorists presented by the regime to the UN.
U.S. Reactions
The incident sparked immediate responses in Washington. Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared that the U.S. government would independently verify the events. Vice President JD Vance noted that the situation is being monitored and acknowledged that they do not yet have all the details.
In South Florida, Miami-Dade’s tax collector, Dariel Fernández, described the Cuban statement as a narrative not verified by independent sources. Mayor Daniella Levine Cava called for a full and transparent assessment, while Congress members María Elvira Salazar and Carlos A. Giménez demanded clarification on whether any of the victims were U.S. citizens or legal residents.
While the Cuban regime maintains it was an armed infiltration with “terrorist purposes,” the family owning the registration insists on a different story: that of a “completely domestic boat” that they claim was stolen before ending up in a shootout that left four dead and several injured.
Investigations are ongoing on both sides of the Florida Straits.
Questions About the Florida Boat Incident in Cuban Waters
What do the Florida family claim about the boat?
The family claims that their boat was stolen by an employee and was never intended for any armed operation.
How does the family describe the boat?
The family describes it as a small, open fishing boat, not a speedboat, equipped with a single engine.
What was the Cuban regime's version of the incident?
The Cuban regime described the incident as an armed infiltration with terrorist intentions, involving a speedboat that opened fire on Cuban military personnel.
What are the U.S. officials' reactions to the incident?
U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have called for independent verification of the events and a transparent assessment of the situation.