A Miami judge has authorized a state arrest warrant without bail for 95-year-old Raúl Castro, charging him with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder related to the downing of two Brothers to the Rescue planes on February 24, 1996.
Judge Ariana Fajardo Orshan, leading the Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court of Florida, signed the warrant last Thursday, as reported by Telemundo 51.
On Monday, Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier revealed the details of the warrant during a press conference held at Florida International University (FIU), a location deeply connected with the Cuban-American community in Miami.
The state warrant authorizes authorities to seek Castro's extradition to Florida if he is found outside the state.
The court documents indicate that two Cuban agents infiltrated Brothers to the Rescue, operating in Miami and Key West, gathering intelligence on flight operations and conducting surveillance to prepare for the attack, establishing state jurisdiction.
This legal action is separate from the federal indictment filed by the Department of Justice on May 20, 2026, which charged Castro and five other former Cuban military officers with seven counts, including four counts of individual murder and one of conspiracy to kill U.S. citizens.
Since that indictment, Castro has been labeled a fugitive from federal justice for failing to appear in court.
Currently, the only defendant in U.S. custody is Luis Raúl González-Pardo Rodríguez, a former lieutenant colonel in the Cuban Air Force, who was extradited to Miami in June 2026 to face federal charges, to which he pleaded not guilty.
The case stems from the shootdown of two Cessna 337 aircraft over international waters in the Florida Straits, resulting in the deaths of four men: Armando Alejandre Jr., Carlos Costa, Mario de la Peña—all U.S. citizens—and Pablo Morales, a legal resident. Their bodies were never recovered.
At the time, Castro served as Cuba's Minister of the Revolutionary Armed Forces. The key evidence against him is a 1996 audio recording, released in 2006 by journalist Wilfredo Cancio, where the former dictator admits to giving the order, stating, "Shoot them down at sea when they appear; and do not consult those who have the authority."
Uthmeier reopened the state investigation on March 4, 2026, claiming the case had stalled under the previous administration. "We will leave no detail unexplored," the attorney general stated at the time.
While neither the state nor the federal warrants can be executed as long as Castro remains in Cuba, due to the absence of an extradition treaty between the two countries, the proceedings add significant legal and symbolic pressure in the international condemnation of the Castro regime's crimes.
This Monday's press conference at FIU confirmed that the state warrant provides an independent legal path to pursue Castro for the 1996 killings.
Legal Implications of Raúl Castro's Arrest Warrant
What charges is Raúl Castro facing in the state warrant?
Raúl Castro is charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder related to the 1996 downing of Brothers to the Rescue planes.
How does the state warrant affect Castro's legal status?
The state warrant allows for Castro's extradition to Florida if he is found outside the state, adding to the legal pressure on him.
What evidence supports the charges against Castro?
The charges are supported by a 1996 audio recording in which Castro acknowledges giving the order to shoot down the planes.
Is there an extradition treaty between Cuba and the United States?
No, there is currently no extradition treaty between Cuba and the United States, complicating the execution of the warrants.