BREAKING: Florida Issues Arrest Warrant for Former Cuban Leader Raúl Castro!
Florida authorities have obtained a no bond arrest warrant for former Cuban leader Raúl Castro, charging him with conspiracy to commit first degree murder in connection with the 1996 shootdown of two Brothers to the Rescue civilian aircraft that killed four men.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is expected to announce the warrant alongside Governor Ron DeSantis at a press conference Monday morning. Uthmeier’s office reopened the state investigation after he took office.
Warrant Ties Castro to 1996 Shootdown
The warrant, issued in Miami Dade County, directs law enforcement to immediately arrest Castro. It states that a judge found probable cause to believe he conspired to commit first degree murder in connection with the deaths of Carlos Costa, Pablo Morales, Mario de la Peña, and Armando Alejandre Jr.
“The investigation revealed evidence of a conspiracy to kill persons aboard BTTR aircraft,” the warrant states, identifying the four men as the intended victims of the alleged conspiracy.
Investigators allege that a plan developed within the Castro regime’s foreign intelligence service moved through the chain of command, with Raúl Castro and his brother, former Cuban leader Fidel Castro, serving as the final decision makers.
Castro’s Own Statement Cited in Warrant
The warrant cites a recorded statement in which Raúl Castro described giving senior military leaders authority to shoot down the aircraft.
Castro said he initially instructed officials to try to shoot down the planes over Cuban territory. He later described directing them to shoot the aircraft down at sea and telling those with authority not to consult anyone before acting.
The statement is being cited by Florida authorities as part of the case surrounding the February 24, 1996, incident.
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Four Men Were Killed
Brothers to the Rescue was a Miami based organization that flew unarmed civilian aircraft to search for Cuban migrants stranded or lost at sea. By the mid 1990s, the group had also become involved in anti Castro political activity, including dropping pro democracy leaflets over Cuba.
The Cuban government has rejected the U.S. prosecution of Castro, arguing that the organization repeatedly violated Cuban airspace and that Cuba acted to defend its sovereignty.
Florida Seeks Extradition
The warrant authorizes Florida authorities to pursue Castro’s extradition if he is arrested outside the state, allowing officials to seek his return to Florida to face the felony charge.
Florida’s Office of Statewide Prosecution will take jurisdiction over the multi circuit criminal conspiracy case.
Castro, now 95, also faces a separate federal prosecution over the shootdown. The Florida warrant opens another legal avenue for authorities seeking to hold him accountable for the deaths of the four men.
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