The United States Department of Justice revealed an expanded formal indictment on Wednesday against Raúl Castro Ruz, aged 94, and five former Cuban military officers. They are accused of their alleged involvement in the shooting down of two civilian aircraft from Brothers to the Rescue on February 24, 1996, over international waters in the Florida Straits.
The charges include conspiracy to murder U.S. nationals, two counts of aircraft destruction, and four individual counts of murder for the deaths of Carlos Costa, Armando Alejandre Jr., Mario de la Peña, and Pablo Morales. Three of the victims were U.S. citizens, and one was a legal resident.
Interim Attorney General Todd Blanche announced the charges at the Freedom Tower in Miami, delivering a clear message.
"For the first time in nearly 70 years, senior officials of the Cuban regime have been charged in the United States for alleged acts of violence that resulted in the deaths of American citizens. If you kill Americans, we will pursue you. No matter who you are. No matter what title you hold."
Details from the Indictment
According to the indictment, a grand jury was convened in Miami on April 23, 2026, and the case was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
The key piece of evidence is an audio recording from June 1996, lasting 11 minutes and 32 seconds, in which Castro—then the Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces—describes the order he gave.
"Take them down at sea when they appear; and do not consult those with the authority," Castro is heard saying on the recording.
Operation and Evidence
The authenticity of the audio was confirmed by experts and Alcibíades Hidalgo, Castro's former personal secretary. Additionally, over 10,000 pages of declassified FBI documents reveal the existence of "Operation Venice," allegedly planned since February 13, 1996, pointing to premeditation.
The indictment states that since the early 1990s, Cuban intelligence agents infiltrated the organization and relayed detailed information about its flight operations to the Cuban government, data used by the military command to plan the attack. Weeks before the shootdown, Cuban military pilots conducted training exercises to locate and intercept slow-moving civilian aircraft.
The Day of the Attack
On the day of the attack, three Cessna planes took off from Opa-locka Airport; two—with registrations N2456S and N5485S—were destroyed by air-to-air missiles fired by MiG fighters over international waters. A third plane, piloted by José Basulto, managed to escape.
Among the five co-defendants alongside Castro is Lorenzo Alberto Pérez-Pérez, identified as the pilot who launched the missiles, with over 1,000 flight hours. The only one already in U.S. custody is Luis Raúl González-Pardo Rodríguez, aged 65, who entered the country with humanitarian parole in April 2024 and was arrested in November 2025 for immigration fraud after concealing his military past.
Potential Consequences and Reactions
If found guilty, Raúl Castro could face the death penalty or life imprisonment for the murder and conspiracy charges.
The indictment is largely symbolic, as Castro, who will turn 95 on June 3, 2026, has never set foot on U.S. soil, and there is no extradition treaty between Cuba and the U.S. The regime immediately rejected the charges: Miguel Díaz-Canel called them a "political action, without any legal basis," claiming that Cuba acted in "legitimate defense."
FBI Director Kash Patel summarized the moment's significance: "For 30 years, these families waited for answers, and the FBI never forgot. We will continue to work with the Department of Justice to bring to justice those who attacked our civilians."
Key Questions About the Indictment Against Raúl Castro
What are the charges against Raúl Castro?
Raúl Castro faces charges of conspiracy to murder U.S. nationals, destruction of aircraft, and murder related to the deaths of four individuals in the 1996 Brothers to the Rescue incident.
Why is the indictment considered symbolic?
The indictment is largely symbolic because Raúl Castro has never been to the U.S., and there is no extradition treaty between Cuba and the U.S.
Who else is involved in the indictment?
In addition to Raúl Castro, five former Cuban military officers are indicted, including Lorenzo Alberto Pérez-Pérez, the pilot who allegedly fired the missiles, and Luis Raúl González-Pardo Rodríguez, who is in U.S. custody.