PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. (CBS12) — Four people are dead and six others injured after a confrontation between a Florida-registered speedboat and Cuban border authorities in Cuban territorial waters, according to a statement posted Tuesday by the Cuban Embassy to the United States on X.
The embassy said that on Wednesday morning, Cuban authorities detected a “violating speedboat” within Cuban territorial waters near the El Pino channel in Cayo Falcones, in the municipality of Corralillo, Villa Clara province.
The vessel, identified as registered in Florida with registration number FL7726SH, allegedly approached to within one nautical mile northeast of the channel.
According to the statement, when a surface unit of Cuba’s Border Guard Troops with five service members approached the boat for identification, “the crew of the violating speedboat opened fire on the Cuban personnel,” injuring the commander of the Cuban vessel.
Cuban officials said that during the confrontation, four people described as “aggressors” aboard the foreign vessel were killed and six others were injured. The injured were evacuated and received medical treatment, the embassy said.
In its statement, Cuba reaffirmed what it called its determination to protect its territorial waters and sovereignty, describing national defense as a fundamental pillar of the Cuban state. Authorities said investigations are ongoing to fully clarify the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier issued a statement on X, calling for an investigation.
“I’ve directed the Office of Statewide Prosecution to work with our federal, state, and law enforcement partners to begin an investigation,” Uthmeier said. “The Cuban government cannot be trusted, and we will do everything in our power to hold these communists accountable.”
U.S. officials have not yet publicly commented on the reported incident.
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