Raúl Castro

Raúl Castro has faced several significant legal controversies and allegations throughout his career, primarily involving his tenure as Cuba's minister of the armed forces and as president. On May 20, 2026, a U.S. federal indictment was unsealed in Miami charging Castro with one count of conspiracy to kill U.S. nationals, four counts of murder, and two counts of destruction of aircraft. The charges stem from the February 1996 shootdown of two civilian aircraft operated by the group Brothers to the Rescue, which resulted in four deaths. The indictment alleges that Castro, then minister of the armed forces, authorized the deadly action against the planes, which were in international airspace at the time. In 1993, Castro was the subject of a federal grand jury investigation in Miami regarding allegations that he oversaw a drug trafficking pipeline. Draft indictments surfaced suggesting he facilitated the transit of at least 7.5 tons of cocaine through Cuba for the Medellín cartel during the 1980s. This case did not result in formal charges, as the investigation was shelved by the Clinton administration amid concerns over witness credibility and political strategy. Additionally, in 1953, Castro was convicted for his role in the attack on the Moncada Barracks, receiving a 13-year prison sentence and serving 22 months. In 2019, the U.S. government sanctioned Castro and barred his entry into the country, citing his role in human rights abuses and support for the Venezuelan government.