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Four men died at sea, six were injured, and the Cuban regime immediately activated a term with strong political implications: "terrorism."
In the center of that narrative appears Amijail Sánchez González, one of the individuals detained following the confrontation in the waters of Villa Clara, and a name that, according to authorities, had already been on their National Terrorist List since last July.
The official spokesperson Humberto López recalled on Facebook that “Amijail Sánchez González, self-styled ‘El Lobo’, one of the 10 Cubans traveling in the boat for infiltration, was included in the National Terrorist List on July 9, 2025.”
Amid an incident with fatalities and accounts that have yet to be independently verified, the government highlights that one of those involved was already under the official label of "terrorist."
What does the regime say about Amijail Sánchez?
The so-called National Terrorist List -updated last summer and presented by Havana to the UN- is based, according to the government, on Resolution 1373 of the Security Council and on domestic legal regulations.
It features individuals who, according to the official version, have been involved in the "promotion, planning, organization, financing, support, or commission" of terrorist acts.
The Official Gazette of July 9, 2025, includes the personal details of Sánchez González: born on April 13, 1978, son of Mercedes and Eddy Tomás, residing in the United States.
It also links him to the preparatory phase file 551/2023, which was opened following the arrest of another Cuban resident in the U.S. who, according to the official version, brought weapons through the northern coast of Matanzas with the intent of attacking military units.
The document claims that these plans would have been "organized, financed, and supported from U.S. territory by citizens residing in that country."
However, the government has not publicly presented independent evidence to support those accusations or verifiable details about the judicial progress of that case.
As has occurred in other cases included in that list, the available information comes exclusively from state sources, without public access to complete files or transparent processes.
The confrontation at Cayo Falcones
The new episode involving Sánchez González occurred when a speedboat registered in Florida (FL7726SH) was detected, according to the Ministry of the Interior (MININT), one nautical mile northeast of the El Pino channel in Cayo Falcones, municipality of Corralillo, Villa Clara.
According to the official statement, a unit of the Border Guard Troops approached to identify the vessel, and at that moment, the "infringing" boat opened fire on the Cuban military. In the exchange, the commander of the official ship was injured.
The report indicated that four people were killed and six others were injured, who were evacuated and provided with medical care.
Subsequently, the identity of one of the deceased was confirmed: Michel Ortega Casanova. The other three fatalities are still undergoing official identification.
As is customary in such events, the only version available so far is that of the MININT. No images of the moment of the confrontation have been released, nor any independent testimonies that could corroborate what happened at sea.
The arrested individuals and the seized arsenal
The regime claims that the vessel was carrying ten armed individuals who intended to enter the country with "terrorist purposes," according to preliminary statements from those detained.
The arrested individuals are Amijail Sánchez González; Leordan Enrique Cruz Gómez (also included in the list presented to the UN); Conrado Galindo Sariol; José Manuel Rodríguez Castelló; Cristian Ernesto Acosta Guevara, and Roberto Azcorra Consuegra
Additionally, Duniel Hernández Santos was arrested in Cuban territory, identified as the alleged receiver for the group.
Authorities reported the seizure of assault rifles, handguns, homemade incendiary devices, bulletproof vests, telescopic sights, and camouflage uniforms.
They also indicated that some of those involved have criminal records.
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