Castro’s Scapegoats

It can now be revealed that Fidel Castro’s 1989 court martial of 14 of his officers on drug-smuggling charges was triggered by a DEA attempt to kidnap his interior minister and bring him to justice in the United States. Patricio de la Guardia, who was found guilty at that court martial and condemned to life imprisonment, has smuggled out, from his closet-sized cell, a letter which exposes the Castro regime’s efforts to cover up its deepening involvement in narcotics trafficking. The document, addressed to leading members of Castro’s Politburo, has been authenticated by de la Guardia’s son, Hector, who has distributed it abroad. Largely ignored by the media, it provides unique insights into the inner workings of Cuba’s Interior Ministry, which is on the front line of the drug war against the United States.

Mr. Arostegui is a freelance journalist specializing in paramilitary affairs.

MA

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Martin Arostegui

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It can now be revealed that Fidel Castro’s 1989 court martial of 14 of his officers on drug-smuggling charges was triggered by a DEA attempt to kidnap his interior minister and bring him to justice in the United States. Patricio de la Guardia, who was found guilty at that court martial and condemned to life imprisonment, has smuggled out, from his closet-sized cell, a letter which exposes the Castro regime’s efforts to cover up its deepening involvement in narcotics trafficking. The document, addressed to leading members of Castro’s Politburo, has been authenticated by de la Guardia’s son, Hector, who has distributed it abroad. Largely ignored by the media, it provides unique insights into the inner workings of Cuba’s Interior Ministry, which is on the front line of the drug war against the United States.

Mr. Arostegui is a freelance journalist specializing in paramilitary affairs.