FBI Launches Independent Cuba Probe After Deadly Speedboat Shootout

A team of FBI agents traveled to Cuba this week to conduct an independent investigation into a deadly maritime confrontation involving ten Cuban exiles who attempted to infiltrate the island by speedboat under cover of darkness. The U.S. Embassy in Havana confirmed the visit on Wednesday, signaling a rare moment of bilateral engagement amid sharply rising tensions between Washington and Havana.

The incident unfolded on February 25, when the group of Cuban nationals approached the island's northern coastline aboard a high-speed vessel, allegedly carrying 13 rifles, 11 pistols, and nearly 13,000 rounds of ammunition. Cuban border patrol officers intercepted the boat approximately one nautical mile off a remote Caribbean channel, roughly 160 kilometers from Marathon, Florida. According to Cuban authorities, the infiltrators opened fire first from about 185 meters away, wounding the patrol captain in the abdomen. Despite his injuries, the captain reportedly stayed at the helm and closed the distance to engage the vessel, resulting in a close-range firefight that left five of the ten assailants dead. The remaining survivors, all wounded, are currently in Cuban custody and receiving medical care.

The U.S. Embassy stated the FBI's mission is to independently verify the facts surrounding the confrontation rather than rely solely on Havana's account. An embassy spokesperson emphasized that American policy decisions would be guided exclusively by U.S. law, national interest, and the protection of its citizens. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also clarified that no U.S. government personnel were involved in the operation.

Cuba identified the group as exiles with alleged terrorist ties who intended to destabilize the country and attack military installations. The episode comes amid escalating U.S.-Cuba relations following President Donald Trump's imposition of an oil blockade on the island in January, after the ousting of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, a key Cuban ally.