Miami, FL — Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced Monday that the state has obtained an arrest warrant for former Cuban leader Raúl Castro, accusing him of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in connection with the 1996 shootdown of two civilian aircraft operated by Brothers to the Rescue.
The Miami-based exile group flew humanitarian missions over the Florida Straits searching for Cuban migrants in distress. On Feb. 24, 1996, Cuban military jets shot down two unarmed U.S.-registered Cessna aircraft over international waters, killing Carlos Costa, Armando Alejandre Jr., Mario de la Peña and Pablo Morales.
Uthmeier said Florida investigators concluded the attack was intentional and part of a coordinated conspiracy involving Cuban intelligence and military officials. He said Castro, then Cuba’s defense minister, was involved in the chain of command that authorized the operation.
Castro, 94, already faces separate federal charges stemming from the same attack. The Justice Department unsealed an indictment in May charging him and five other former Cuban officials with conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals, destruction of aircraft and murder. All defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
Uthmeier acknowledged that Castro is unlikely to be taken into Florida custody immediately but said the warrant could have consequences if he travels to a country willing to extradite him.
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