The U.S. Department of the Treasury has imposed sanctions on nine high-ranking officials of the Cuban regime, along with Cuba's Intelligence Directorate—historically referred to as DGI or "G2." These individuals and entities have been added to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List, as announced by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC).
The sanctions fall under Executive Order 14404, signed by President Donald Trump on May 1, 2026, titled "Imposing Sanctions on Those Responsible for Repression in Cuba and for Threats to United States National Security and Foreign Policy." This order establishes a new sanction authority under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, separate from the traditional Cuban embargo regulations.
Key Figures Among Sanctioned Officials
Among those sanctioned is Roberto Morales Ojeda, a prominent figure in the Cuban power structure, serving as the Secretary of Organization of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and a member of the Politburo.
Just three days prior to the announcement, Morales Ojeda publicly praised the "transparency" of the Cuban government following a meeting between the CIA and the Cuban Ministry of the Interior (MININT) in Havana.
Esteban Lazo Hernández, a long-standing regime official born in 1944 in Jovellanos, Matanzas, and President of the National Assembly of People's Power, is also on the list. He is joined by Mayra Arevich Marín, Minister of Communications since April 2021 and former CEO of ETECSA.
Completing the list of sanctioned civilian officials are Vicente De la O Levy, the Minister of Energy and Mines, and Rosabel Gamon Verde, the Minister of Justice.
Military Leaders and Intelligence Directorate Targeted
On the military front, sanctions target Joaquín Quintas Solá, a Corps General and Deputy Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces, the oldest in the group, born in 1938 in Santiago de Cuba. Other military figures include Division Generals José Miguel Gómez del Vallín, Eugenio Armando Rabilero Aguilera, and Raúl Villar Kessell.
The most significant institutional designation is that of the Cuban Intelligence Directorate, founded on June 6, 1961, as the primary foreign intelligence service of the Cuban state. Now blocked under the CUBA-EO14404 program, all its assets under U.S. jurisdiction are frozen, and transactions with U.S. persons or entities are prohibited.
Expanded Sanctions and Their Implications
In addition to the new designations, OFAC has updated existing entries for the Ministry of the Interior (MININT) and the Revolutionary National Police (PNR), adding the CUBA-EO14404 program to their previous sanctions under the Global Magnitsky program. PNR leaders Oscar Alejandro Callejas Valcarce and Eddy Manuel Sierra Arias received the same update.
This marks the second wave of individual sanctions against the regime in less than two weeks. On May 7, the Department of State issued the first designations under EO 14404, which included GAESA, the military conglomerate controlling over 70% of Cuba's dollarized economy.
The pattern of sanctions indicates that the Trump administration is maintaining a policy of escalating and sustained pressure on the Cuban regime's leadership, using EO 14404 as a key tool to extend the reach of restrictions beyond the traditional embargo framework.
Impact of U.S. Sanctions on Cuba
What is the significance of Executive Order 14404?
Executive Order 14404, signed by President Trump in 2026, allows for the imposition of sanctions on individuals and entities responsible for repression in Cuba and threats to U.S. national security and foreign policy, expanding beyond the traditional Cuban embargo.
Who are some of the key figures affected by these sanctions?
Notable figures include Roberto Morales Ojeda, Esteban Lazo Hernández, and Mayra Arevich Marín, among others. Military leaders such as Joaquín Quintas Solá and other generals are also targeted.
How do these sanctions affect the Cuban Intelligence Directorate?
The Cuban Intelligence Directorate, known as DGI or G2, is now blocked under the CUBA-EO14404 program, with its assets frozen and transactions with U.S. entities prohibited.
What was the previous action taken under EO 14404?
The first action under EO 14404 occurred on May 7, targeting GAESA, the military conglomerate that controls a significant portion of Cuba's economy.