As the Cuban regime circulated an official statement about an alleged armed confrontation in the waters of Villa Clara, listing the names of supposed detainees, one individual on that list broke his silence from the United States to deny any involvement.
Roberto Azcorra Consuegra, identified by the Ministry of the Interior (MININT) as one of those apprehended following the incident, insists he was never on the vessel and is not even in Cuba.
"It's me, Roberto Azcorra Consuegra, whom the Cuban dictatorship claims to have detained, but I'm here in the U.S.," he declared during a conversation with influencer and activist Eliecer Ávila.
Originally from Cienfuegos and residing in the United States since 2017 under political asylum, Azcorra argues that his inclusion in the official report is either a serious mistake or a deliberate act.
The Questionable List
"My question is, if they confirm I'm there, they have my data because I was born in Cuba. They know who I am... How can they confirm something they don't have? I don't get it, and I don't know myself," he questioned.
During the conversation, Ávila suggested that the regime might have used outdated information to compile the list without verifying the identities of those involved.
"You know what that shows me? That they just pulled from the organization's list. They've infiltrated the organization, and since they had that list, they jumped the gun assuming you'd be there," Ávila commented.
Azcorra acknowledged knowing several of the individuals involved personally. "I'm an activist. I know the people in the photo personally, I have pictures with them and everything," he stated, emphasizing that he neither participated in the operation nor traveled to Cuba.
Azcorra's Refuge in the U.S.
According to his account, he arrived in the United States in 2017 after a journey through the Bahamas and a period of detention there. "I'm already granted political asylum... that's the story, the reality," he affirmed.
He also revealed that he has received numerous calls from media outlets seeking interviews, but he has been cautious.
"I have over forty calls from the press wanting to interview me, but I've told them: there are things I can't say... since this is part of an ongoing case, I can't disclose anything at the moment," he explained.
What he wanted to make clear, according to Ávila, is a crucial point: "The truth is, you are neither the one dead nor injured there," which Azcorra confirmed, stating he had no involvement whatsoever.
For Azcorra, the issue is particularly sensitive: "For a dictatorship to put your name and confirm it's you, that's significant... it can affect you in many ways."
Azcorra also raised the possibility of confusion with another person of a similar name. "In the photo they're showing, there's someone missing... and I think they might be presenting this individual as me because he has the same name. The only difference is the last names," he commented.
Despite this, he left open the suspicion that it might not just be an error. "With the dictatorship, nothing seems coincidental to me, much less a matter as delicate as this," he stated.
Skepticism Surrounds the Official Report
Azcorra's public statement casts doubt on the authenticity or accuracy of the official list.
"The first list they release already contains falsehoods," Ávila remarked during the conversation.
From the United States, Azcorra maintains that his name was included without evidence or basic identity verification.
"To confirm something, you need to see me, investigate everything, have a photo, my fingerprint... to accept that news," he concluded.
Roberto Azcorra also spoke to the digital media outlet elTOQUE, reiterating that he is in the U.S. and that his inclusion in the list is undoubtedly a mistake.
The Incident in Villa Clara Waters
The case dates back to an official MININT communiqué reporting the detection of a suspected "speedboat" with a Florida state registration (FL7726SH), navigating within Cuban waters, approximately one nautical mile northeast of El Pino channel, in Cayo Falcones, Corralillo municipality, Villa Clara province.
According to the official account, a surface unit of the Border Guard Troops, consisting of five personnel, approached to identify the vessel. As per the government's report, gunfire was exchanged from the boat towards the Cuban military.
During the altercation, the commander of the Cuban vessel was injured. The MININT reported that four people aboard the boat were killed and six were wounded, who were evacuated for medical attention.
Authorities claimed the boat was carrying ten armed individuals intending to enter national territory with "terrorist purposes," according to preliminary statements attributed to the detainees.
Officially mentioned among the arrested were Amijail Sánchez González, Leordan Enrique Cruz Gómez, Conrado Galindo Sariol, José Manuel Rodríguez Castelló, Cristian Ernesto Acosta Guevara, and Roberto Azcorra Consuegra.
Duniel Hernández Santos was also detained within Cuban territory, allegedly linked to the group's reception.
MININT also reported the seizure of assault rifles, handguns, homemade incendiary devices, bulletproof vests, telescopic sights, and camouflage uniforms.
It indicated that some of the individuals involved have criminal records and that two of them - Amijail Sánchez González and Leordan Enrique Cruz Gómez - are listed in the national registry of persons considered terrorists, updated in July and presented to the UN.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Incident and Arrests
What did Roberto Azcorra Consuegra say about his alleged arrest?
Roberto Azcorra Consuegra denied any involvement in the incident and stated that he is in the United States, not in Cuba, contradicting the Cuban regime's official report.
What was the Cuban regime's claim regarding the speedboat incident?
The Cuban regime claimed that a speedboat with a Florida registration was detected in Cuban waters, and during an exchange with the Border Guard Troops, gunfire occurred, resulting in casualties and injuries.
How has the international community reacted to the incident?
There has been skepticism regarding the Cuban regime's report, with doubts about the authenticity and accuracy of the official list of detainees, as highlighted by Roberto Azcorra's statement.