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The former major of the Ministry of the Interior (MININT) of Cuba, Rogelio Enrique Bolufé Izquierdo, has been arrested in Miami-Dade County charged with cocaine possession.
According to official county reports, Bolufé Izquierdo, 43 years old, was arrested on August 17 as part of a drug trafficking operation.
Information published by Periódico Cubano stated that the former official has already been brought before a county court, where bail was set at $2,500.
Nevertheless, he remains in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) pending a court hearing.
The first public hint of his arrest came from the urban singer and activist Al Money, who shared the news on his X account.
Subsequently, local media confirmed the arrest and the formal charges.
Trajectory in the Cuban security apparatus
Bolufé Izquierdo served for more than 15 years in Fidel Castro's personal security team and arrived in the United States as a presumed "defector" in 2020, although he later took it upon himself to clarify that characterization.
Various sources identify him not only as a close member of the Castro circle but also as the alleged godson of the dictator.
On the other hand, it is reported that Rogelio Enrique Bolufé would be the father of Carlos Rogelio Bolufé García, a close friend of Sandro Castro.
In interviews given shortly after his arrival in the United States, Bolufé claimed to have resided in Fidel Castro's house for work-related reasons.
He described his functions as focused on "intelligence tasks and information gathering," although he clarified that he did not accompany him on his international trips.
Public statements following their arrival in the U.S.
His arrival in Miami was accompanied by statements that stirred both interest and skepticism.
In a tense and intriguing interview with Peruvian journalist Jaime Bayly, Bolufé said things like: “I have not deserted, nor will I desert, because I am proud of who I am.”
However, in the same conversation, he openly acknowledged that a dictatorship prevails in Cuba and pointed out that the military had the mission to "protect the people."
“I am going to make Cuba free. I represent many soldiers, soldiers who have dignity, who are fully aware that the Cuban nation is divided, that it is shattered, that it is destroyed, and that we must provide an imminent solution. We can no longer wait,” he said; and proclaimed a supposed personal mission of return.
Despite these claims, the press and some analysts questioned both his stability and the truthfulness of his intentions, suggesting that he might be a double agent, a common practice within the Cuban intelligence apparatus.
Skepticism and disappearance from the public stage
After those erratic initial statements, Bolufé did not join opposition movements nor was he associated with political projects within the Cuban exile community.
His profile gradually lost prominence and he was not mentioned again in public debates about Cuba until now, when his name reappears linked, no less, to a legal proceeding regarding narcotics.
The skepticism of those who heard their testimonies in 2020 is reinforced by this new episode.
While some viewed him as a man trying to capitalize on his closeness to Fidel Castro to gain standing in exile, others regarded him as a minor figure seeking fleeting notoriety.
The truth is that he has ended up caught in a scandal that could lead to his deportation. Currently, Bolufé Izquierdo is in the custody of ICE, and his immigration status adds to the ongoing criminal proceedings.
The setting of bail has not allowed him to regain provisional freedom, so he must face his hearing in custody.
Considered a "terrorist" by the Cuban regime
Rogelio Enrique Bolufé Izquierdo appears on the National List of Persons and Entities Associated with Terrorism, published by the Cuban regime in the Official Gazette of July of this year.
This list—continuing one published in 2023—now includes 62 individuals and 20 entities identified as responsible for or linked to alleged acts of terrorism, among which is the name Bolufé.
According to the document, those listed have been “subjected to criminal investigations” and are “wanted by Cuban authorities for their involvement in acts of terrorism.”
In light of the latest news regarding the "deserter who is not a deserter," the question is: Will the Cuban government accept his deportation to the island?
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