On May 20, 2026, the United States Department of Justice issued a federal criminal indictment against former Cuban President Raúl Castro and five other senior Cuban officials. The charges include drug trafficking, money laundering, and human rights abuses, marking a significant escalation in the Trump administration's pressure campaign against Cuba's communist government.
The indictment, unsealed in a federal court in Washington, D.C., alleges that Castro and his co-defendants participated in a decades-long conspiracy to smuggle cocaine into the United States and to suppress political dissent in Cuba. The other indicted individuals include current and former members of Cuba's military and intelligence services.
This action follows a series of sanctions and diplomatic measures taken by the Trump administration since 2017, including the reimposition of travel restrictions and the designation of Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism. The indictment is seen as an unprecedented legal move against a former head of state from a country with which the US has no formal extradition treaty.
Cuban officials have denounced the indictment as politically motivated and a violation of international law. The Cuban government has not yet issued an official response, but analysts expect a sharp rhetorical escalation from Havana.
