Cuba: Information on convictions and executions of high-ranking military officers in the mid to late 1980s because of drug trafficking
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 November 1994 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | CUB19106.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Cuba: Information on convictions and executions of high-ranking military officers in the mid to late 1980s because of drug trafficking, 1 November 1994, CUB19106.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ad2658.html [accessed 5 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The following four Cuban officials were executed by a firing squad on 13 July 1989 for drug smuggling: General Arnaldo Ochoa Sanchez, also referred to as a major-general, former Interior official Colonel Antonio de la Guardia Font, secret police official Major Amado Padron, and Captain Jorge Martinez, General Ochoa's military aide (UPI 12 July 1989; Chicago Tribune 14 July 1989). This information is corroborated by many of the attachments, although in most cases only General Ochoa is mentioned. Ten other officers, also convicted of black marketeering and smuggling diamonds, ivory and other goods, were sentenced to between 10 and 30 years imprisonment (ibid.). The men were accused of collaborating with Colombia's Medellin cartel (AP 8 July 1989; St. Louis Post-Dispatch 2 July 1989; The Daily Telegraph 8 July 1989), which both The Daily Telegraph and the Chicago Tribune refer to as the "world's largest cocaine-trafficking organization" (ibid.; 14 July 1989).
According to an AP release, the 14 men were either officers in the Cuban armed forces or were high-ranking officials in the security staff of the interior ministry (AP 11 July 1989). The attached Foreign Affairs entry corroborates this information, stating that the 14 defendents were officers in the military and in the interior ministry (1989). According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, former interior minister Jose Abrantes was the fifteenth officer to be formally charged in this case (2 July 1989). However, a Latinamerica Press article contradicts this information, stating that although Interior Minister General José Abrantes was not implicated in the drug trafficking, he was dismissed for "glaring deficiencies" (13 July 1989, 1).
Several articles referred to speculation that some of the officers may have been arrested because Castro considered them potential political threats or rivals (Los Angeles Times 17 June 1989; The Daily Telegraph 8 July 1989; Latin American Weekly 6 July 1989, 2-3; Latinamerica Press 13 July 1989).
This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
References
The Associated Press (AP). 11 July 1989. AM Cycle. "Cubans Defend Death Sentences of Convicted Drug Smugglers." (NEXIS)
Chicago Tribune. 14 July 1989. Final Edition. "War Hero Executed in Cuba." (NEXIS)
The Daily Telegraph [London]. 8 July 1989. Patricia Wilson. "Cuba Drugs General to Face Firing Squad." (NEXIS)
Foreign Affairs [New York]. 1989. "Chronology 1989: Latin America; Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean." (NEXIS)
Latinamerica Press [Lima]. 13 July 1989. Vol. 21, No. 26. "Cuba: Drug Trafficking Scandal Hits Core of Castro's Revolution."
Latin American Weekly Report [London]. 6 July 1989. "Cuba: Military & Drugs: Three Explanations for Military Purge."
St. Louis Post-Dispatch. 2 July 1989. 5 Star Edition. "Officers in Cuba Indicted 15 Being Charged in Drug Smuggling." (NEXIS)
The United Press International (UPI). 12 July 1989. BC Cycle. Nancy Stuermer. "Castro Says He Didn't Influence Ochoa Trial." (NEXIS)
Attachments
The Associated Press (AP). 11 July 1989. AM Cycle. "Cubans Defend Death Sentences of Convicted of Drug Smugglers." (NEXIS)
. 8 July 1989. AM Cycle. James Martinez. "1,600 Pounds of Cocaine Dropped Off Cuban Coast, Feds Say." (NEXIS)
Chicago Tribune. 14 July 1989. Final Edition. "War Hero Executed in Cuba." (NEXIS)
. 11 July 1989. Final Edition. "Cuba's Ruling Council Rejects Appeal by 4 Doomed Officers." (NEXIS)
The Daily Telegraph [London]. 8 July 1989. Patricia Wilson. "Cuba Drugs General to Face Firing Squad." (NEXIS)
Foreign Affairs [New York]. 1989. "Chronology 1989: Latin America; Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean." (NEXIS)
Latinamerica Press [Lima]. 13 July 1989. Vol. 21, No. 26. "Cuba: Drug Trafficking Scandal Hits Core of Castro's Revolution," pp. 1-2.
Latin American Weekly Report [London]. 13 August 1992. "Cuba: Politics: Old Scandal Back After Coup Rumours," p. 9.
. 13 December 1990. "Cuba: Politics & Drugs: So Was Ochoa a Scapegoat?", p. 9.
. 21 September 1989. "Cuba: Drugs & Politics: Castro Publishes the Ochoa Story," p. 3.
. 27 July 1989. "Cuba: Drug Case Officers Shot," p. 12.
. 6 July 1989. "Cuba: Military & Drugs: Three Explanations for Military Purge," pp. 2-3.
. 29 June 1989. "Cuba: Politics & Military: Generals Fall in Big Corruption Bust," p. 3.
Los Angeles Times. 17 June 1989. Home Edition. Don Shannon. "Cuba Confirms Drug Links in Arrests of Army Officials." (NEXIS)
St. Louis Post-Dispatch. 2 July 1989. 5 Star Edition. "Officers in Cuba Indicted 15 Being Charged in Drug Smuggling." (NEXIS)
The United Press International (UPI). 12 July 1989. BC Cycle. Nancy Stuermer. "Castro Says He Didn't Influence Ochoa Trial." (NEXIS).
Additional Sources Consulted
Amnesty International Report [New York]. Yearly. 1989, 1990.
Critique: Review of the Department of State's Country Reports on Human Rights Practices [Washington, DC]. Yearly. 1989, 1990.
Latinamerica Press [Lima]. Weekly. 1989 to present.
Latin American Special Reports [London]. Bi-monthly. 1990 to present.
Latin American Weekly Report [London]. Weekly. 1989 to present.
On-line search of media sources.
