From Spy to "Devoted Son": How a Cuban Deported by the U.S. Won Luis Posada Carriles' Confidence

Fernando Armando Valdés Pérez, a Cuban-Guatemalan recently deported by the United States for being identified as an operative of Cuban intelligence, managed to deeply infiltrate the inner circle of Luis Posada Carriles.

For years, Valdés Pérez was not only Posada's companion and caretaker but also a figure so close that one of Posada's friends described him as a "devoted son."

A recent investigation by journalist Nora Gámez Torres, featured in the Miami Herald, unveils new insights into the relationship between Valdés Pérez and Posada, highlighting the remarkable level of access Valdés Pérez had to one of Havana's prominent adversaries.

Valdés Pérez, aged 61, who lived for years in Kendall, was deported to Guatemala on August 7. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) claims he was a Cuban intelligence asset tasked since the 1990s with infiltrating exile organizations.

Deepening Ties with Posada

Prior reports indicated Valdés Pérez had infiltrated Posada Carriles' circle. However, testimonies gathered by Gámez Torres reveal a much deeper connection.

Orlando González, a close friend of Posada and director of Rescate Jurídico in Hialeah, which supports Cuban political prisoners, recounted how inseparable Valdés Pérez became from the anti-Castro militant.

Valdés Pérez would accompany Posada to medical appointments, manage his medications, and essentially act as his personal representative. González noted that anyone wishing to see Posada practically had to go through Valdés Pérez.

Santiago Álvarez, a Miami businessman and Posada's benefactor, also remarked on Valdés Pérez's charm and resourcefulness, describing him as charismatic and willing to solve problems, almost "too perfect."

Guatemala: A Safe Haven

One of the most telling episodes of their trust occurred after Panama's President Mireya Moscoso pardoned Posada in 2004. With Posada's life at risk, he sought refuge in Guatemala, staying over a year in Valdés's residence—the very man later identified by U.S. authorities as a Cuban intelligence operative.

Remarkably, as reported by the Miami Herald, Posada was hidden only about 200 yards from the Cuban consulate in Guatemala City. Ernesto Abreu, another of Posada's close associates, later described this as "sleeping with the enemy."

Valdés Pérez's care was unwavering. Abreu recalled how he prepared meals and attended to Posada's daily needs.

The Ultimate Test of Loyalty

The depth of Posada's trust in Valdés Pérez became evident when plans were made for Posada's departure from Guatemala to Mexico. Santiago Álvarez, coordinating the operation with his boat Santrina, had advised that Valdés Pérez not accompany Posada due to suspicions within the group.

However, Posada refused to leave without him. According to Álvarez's account to the Miami Herald, Posada insisted that if Valdés Pérez wasn't coming, neither was he. Ultimately, Valdés Pérez accompanied Posada.

This episode underscores the extent to which Valdés Pérez earned the trust of a man who had long been a primary target of Havana's intelligence operations. Posada Carriles passed away in 2018 at the age of 90. A photograph from his last birthday celebration poignantly captures their relationship, showing Posada beside a large cake for his 89th birthday with only one person standing next to him: Fernando Armando Valdés Pérez.