The United States is reportedly planning to indict former Cuban President Raul Castro in connection with the downing of planes 30 years ago.
The potential indictment – which would need to be approved by a grand jury – is expected to focus on Cuba’s deadly 1996 shootdown of planes operated by the humanitarian group Brothers to the Rescue, CBS News reports.
Florida’s Attorney General previously said at a news conference in March he was reopening a state investigation into the plane downing.
At the same time, Miami’s top federal prosecutor spearheaded a new initiative targeting Cuban communist leaders over economic crimes, drugs, violent crimes and immigration-related violations – specifically focusing on Communist Party leaders.
Florida Republican Senator Rick Scott has also recently called on the Department of Justice to charge Castro and bring him to justice in the US.
Raul, 94, formally stepped down as the leader of Cuba’s Communist Party in 2021, but he is still widely seen as one of the most powerful figures in the country.
The indictment comes as the US continues to put pressure on the Cuban government.
Former Cuban President Raul Castro is pictured at a celebration on May 1
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
