2 men on Florida boat involved in deadly clash wanted for 'terrorism' by Cuba

Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald on Feb 26, 2026

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At least two of the men involved in a recent shootout with the Cuban coast guard off the country’s coast are on Cuba’s wanted list for terrorism.

Amijail Sánchez González, 47, and Leordan Enrique Cruz Gómez, 47, were two of the people on board a Florida-registered speedboat involved in a deadly clash with Cuba’s coast guard off the northern coast of Villa Clara. Cuban authorities have described the situation as a “terrorist infiltration” and said that four people were killed during an exchange of gunfire. Six others, including González and Gómez, were detained.

Both Sánchez and Cruz, who were born in Cuba and live in the U.S., were already known to the Cuban government. Their names appear on the regime’s most recent national terrorism list, which was updated last year and published in the country’s official state-sponsored newspaper. The list, according to the Cuban regime, includes individuals and organizations that “have been subject to criminal investigations and are wanted by Cuban authorities for their involvement in acts of terrorism.”

The list, which is in Spanish, alleges that Sánchez introduced firearms, ammunition and other supplies through the northern coast of Matanzas for the “purpose of carrying out acts of terrorism in military units, among other plans of this nature” and claimed the plans were “organized, financed, and supported by” people in the U.S.

Cruz, who was born in Cienfuegos, was wanted for “initiating sabotage activities in the province of Villa Clara,” which led to detention and criminal charges, according to the list.

Cuban authorities have published their list of people and organizations they consider wanted “terrorists” for allegedly promoting, planning, financing or committing acts related to terrorism in Cuba and abroad since 2023. Many of the people on the list live in the United States and include well known Miami-based Cuban activists, media personalities and influencers who criticize the government.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in response to Wednesday’s shootout, said the U.S. is gathering its own information to determine what happened and that it was not a U.S. government operation.