FBI launches probe in Cuba after deadly speedboat shootout

A team from the FBI has arrived in Cuba to conduct an “independent investigation” into a deadly maritime shootout involving a Florida-registered speedboat, as Washington signals it will not rely solely on Havana’s account of the incident.

The confrontation dates back to February 25, when a group of 10 armed individuals attempted to enter Cuban territory by sea. According to Cuban authorities, the group was carrying a large cache of weapons — including rifles, pistols and nearly 13,000 rounds of ammunition — when they encountered border patrol forces.

A firefight followed. Five of the attackers were killed, while the remaining survivors were wounded and taken into custody, where they received medical treatment, Cuban officials said.

The US embassy in Havana said the FBI deployment is aimed at verifying the facts independently.

“Consistent with US policy, we do not make decisions in the United States on the basis of what Cuban authorities are saying,” an embassy official said. “We will independently verify the facts and make decisions based solely on US interest, US law, and the protection of US citizens.”

Washington has also stressed that the incident was not a US government operation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said no American personnel were involved, distancing the administration from the armed incursion.

Cuba, for its part, has framed the event as a planned infiltration attempt by exiles based in the United States, accusing them of intending to destabilise the country and attack military targets.

Details from the encounter suggest a rapid escalation. Cuban patrol forces reportedly intercepted the vessel near the island’s northern coast, where the approaching speedboat opened fire first, triggering an exchange that ended at close range.

The investigation comes at a moment of heightened tension between the two countries. Relations have deteriorated in recent months, shaped by US pressure on Cuba’s energy supply and broader geopolitical strains.

Against that backdrop, the FBI’s presence is notable. Direct cooperation between US and Cuban authorities on sensitive security incidents is rare, and the outcome of the investigation could influence how both sides frame the event — and their already strained relationship.