Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez dismissed on Wednesday the explosive claims linking Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, nicknamed "El Cangrejo" and grandson of Raúl Castro, to a transnational criminal network under FBI investigation, denying any involvement of the Cuban government in human trafficking operations.
Although Rodríguez did not explicitly name the former leader's grandson, his statement signifies a defense of Havana's official stance against the allegations.
Rodríguez labeled the The New York Times report as a "new slanderous fabrication" against Cuba, accusing the American newspaper of serving the interests of the U.S. government.
"There is no connection or involvement of the Cuban government in human trafficking operations in Central America or Mexico," the Foreign Minister declared.
This response came after The New York Times investigation linked "El Cangrejo" to a criminal organization under FBI scrutiny that allegedly operated for years between Cuba, Mexico, and Florida, engaging in activities like smuggling Cuban migrants and contraband.
The report is supported by, among other elements, statements from two men convicted for their involvement in the so-called "Cuban Mafia in Quintana Roo."
One of them, José Miguel González Vidal, told U.S. authorities that Rodríguez allegedly collaborated with the organization and received bribes in exchange for facilitating their operations in Cuba.
According to this testimony, "El Cangrejo" reportedly received a high-performance Fountain 38 boat, a Rolex watch, a Suzuki motorcycle, and Louis Vuitton clothing.
His alleged role was to help keep the Cuban Coast Guard and Customs at bay to allow the movement of people and goods.
The newspaper also mentioned that investigators obtained text and voice messages from the network members' phones supporting some of the testimonies.
Rodríguez Castro has not been formally charged with any crime in the United States, and it remains unclear if he is currently a target of the ongoing federal investigation.
Allegations of Smuggling and Ransom
The criminal network described in the investigation reportedly operated for more than a decade, using stolen boats in Florida to clandestinely transport Cubans to Mexico.
The smugglers charged approximately $10,000 per person, and some migrants unable to pay were detained, beaten, and subjected to electric shocks, according to court testimonies cited in the investigation. At least 21 individuals were convicted.
Cuba's Stance and Calls for U.S. Action
In response to these revelations, Bruno Rodríguez contended that it was Cuba who alerted the United States about networks dedicated to trafficking migrants.
According to the Foreign Minister, Cuban delegations repeatedly raised the issue during bilateral migration talks held between 2022 and 2024 with officials from the Departments of State and Homeland Security.
Rodríguez claimed that Cuba warned of "one or several operations trafficking Cubans to the U.S." with a coordinating hub in South Florida.
"It was repeatedly recommended to that country's authorities to investigate the matter, but they never responded," he asserted. This version was presented by the Foreign Minister to refute any responsibility of the Cuban government.
Havana's reaction aligns with the position taken by Mexico. The Mexican Security Cabinet stated it lacks "its own information or evidence" regarding the revelations related to the criminal organization and its alleged ties to foreign officials or their relatives.
The Mexican statement avoided directly naming "El Cangrejo" and affirmed that the country's authorities have no data to corroborate the published claims.
Nevertheless, Mexico reiterated its commitment to international cooperation against organized crime and human trafficking.
Insights into the Cuban Human Trafficking Allegations
What are the allegations against "El Cangrejo"?
"El Cangrejo" is accused of being linked to a criminal network involved in smuggling Cuban migrants and contraband, allegedly receiving bribes to facilitate operations in Cuba.
How did the Cuban government respond to the human trafficking allegations?
The Cuban government, through Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez, denied any involvement in human trafficking and accused The New York Times of fabricating claims to serve U.S. interests.
What evidence supports the claims against the criminal network?
The investigation relies on testimonies from convicted individuals and text and voice messages obtained from the network's members' phones.