The name Duniel Hernández Santos has surfaced prominently in the official account provided by the Cuban regime following a violent confrontation that occurred Wednesday morning in the waters north of Villa Clara, resulting in the deaths of four individuals and injuries to others.
The Ministry of the Interior (MININT) claims that "citizen Duniel Hernández Santos, sent from the United States to ensure the reception of the armed infiltration," was detained within Cuban territory and has confessed to his involvement.
According to this narrative, Hernández was allegedly the on-land contact for a group attempting to arrive via a speedboat from Florida, supposedly for terrorist purposes.
However, people who claim to know him since childhood dispute this accusation, questioning the assertion that he was "sent" from the United States with an organized mission.
In a phone interview with influencer Eliécer Ávila, a woman who says she grew up alongside him shared her skepticism.
"That young man grew up next to me... right next to my house," she recounted, differentiating Duniel from other family members, particularly his brother, whom she described as having a significant criminal record.
"But that young man is completely different," she argued.
According to her account, Hernández returned to Cuba in 2024 after being detained in the United States and subsequently deported.
"A boy who was detained... and deported directly to Cuba, what they are saying is a lie," she stated, referring to the official accusation.
"I have no evidence, but it seems to me that this boy has nothing to do with it," she insisted.
She also made a direct appeal: "At least someone should stand up and say: I know him, and I don't believe everything they are saying about that child is true."
Details Surrounding Duniel Hernández's Case
Who is Duniel Hernández Santos?
Duniel Hernández Santos is a Cuban individual whose name has become central in reports about an armed conflict near Villa Clara, Cuba. He is accused by the Cuban regime of being involved in receiving armed infiltration from the United States.
What are the allegations against Hernández?
The Ministry of the Interior claims that Hernández was sent from the United States to facilitate the landing of an armed group via speedboat from Florida, allegedly for terrorist intentions.
What do people who know Hernández say about the accusations?
Individuals who claim to have known Hernández since childhood express doubt about the accusations, asserting that he was not sent from the U.S. on an organized mission and mentioning his deportation from the United States as inconsistent with the official story.