The Cuban-American lawyer Willy Allen stated this Wednesday that there are no legal or operational obstacles preventing U.S. special forces from capturing Raúl Castro in Havana "tonight," just hours after the U.S. Department of Justice filed formal charges against the former Cuban leader for his alleged involvement in the shooting down of the Brothers to the Rescue planes in 1996.
"At this moment, this very night, there could be a special American tactical group on its way to capture Raúl in Havana," Allen stated in an interview with Tania Costa.
The lawyer was emphatic in stating that, once a formal accusation exists, Castro becomes a fugitive: "Right now, he is a fugitive from U.S. law."
Allen dismissed the idea that a potential escape to Russia or China could protect the former Cuban leader: "It doesn't matter if he goes to Russia or China. The American government can request his extradition to the United States. It doesn't matter where he goes."
The lawyer cited the precedents of Manuel Antonio Noriega in Panama and Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela as examples of foreign leaders captured or extradited at the behest of Washington, and added the case of the former president of Honduras, who was extradited, tried in the U.S., and later granted clemency.
Regarding the possibility of a military operation, Allen revealed that there are rumors that the U.S. armed forces have been closely monitoring Cuba. "There are rumors that the American armed forces have been keeping a very close watch on Cuba, using satellites, drones, whatever it may be."
The lawyer expressed having "no doubt whatsoever" that a detailed plan already exists in the Pentagon. "I have no doubt whatsoever that in a part of the Pentagon, even before the Federal Prosecutor in Miami issued this arrest order, there are already people in the military sector of the United States planning it."
However, Allen specified that the uncertainty is not technical but political. "The issue is when they are going to execute it or if they are going to execute it. That is the problem now."
The formal accusation, announced this Wednesday at the Freedom Tower in Miami by acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, includes four counts of homicide, destruction of civil aircraft, and conspiracy to murder U.S. citizens, crimes that carry the death penalty in federal courts.
Donald Trump described the announcement as "a great day" for the Cuban-American community, while Miguel Díaz-Canel rejected the charges and described them as a "political action without legal basis."
On a personal level, the lawyer —who lived for more than 20 months under the regime before going into exile in 1960— expressed satisfaction at the news, recalling the anguish of his family during the Bay of Pigs and the years of repression. "For me, let them not sleep well tonight. Wonderful."
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