US seizes 90 biodiesel shipments bound for Cuba, Havana calls it piracy

The seizure

US authorities announced on Wednesday, 7 October, that they had seized 90 shipments of biodiesel bound for Cuba, 71 at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and 19 at the port of Houston, Texas. The fuel was destined for Enetec SA, a Cuban importer affiliated with the government that Washington sanctioned in July. Sources differ on the value: The New York Times, citing the Department of Homeland Security, put it above $2.8 million, while ANSA and other outlets gave about $3 million. Volumes also vary by source. ANSA reported 71 tanks holding about 500,000 gallons and 19 further shipments of about 120,000 gallons, while the New York Times gave 1.87 million liters at Port Everglades and 450,464 liters at Houston, more than 2.27 million liters in total. The New York Times said the seizure appears to be the first large one of its kind since the Trump administration imposed a fuel blockade on Cuba earlier this year.

Investigators' account

Jose R. Figueroa, the special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Miami, announced the seizures at a press conference and said the cargoes reflected a coordinated effort to supply the sanctioned company. He said the shipments were meant to reach the Cuban government through a sanctioned entity.

This is a deliberate attempt to circumvent US sanctions and everything is, at this time, under investigation.

Figueroa declined to name the US companies involved, citing an ongoing investigation. No criminal charges were announced, and officials did not identify the country where the fuel originated.

Havana's rebuttal

Cuba's deputy foreign minister, Carlos Fernández de Cossío, responded on Wednesday in a message posted on social media. He argued that fuel imports into Cuba are lawful whatever their origin, and that the illegal act is the one the Cuban government attributes to Washington.

Fuel imports by state and private entities in Cuba, from any country, are legal under national legislation and international law.

He accused the US government of intimidating sovereign states and companies with threats of retaliation if they export fuel to Cuba or transport it there.

What is illegal is intimidating sovereign states with threats of retaliation by the US government if they export fuel to Cuba.

Fernández de Cossío also called the pursuit and interception of ships carrying fuel to Cuba in international waters illegal, comparing it to "piracy and plunder". He contested a September interception of a vessel carrying fuel to Cuba in international waters, and said that storing, distributing and selling fuel inside Cuba is legal.

Blockade and blackouts

According to The New York Times, the Trump government began cutting fuel supplies to Cuba in January, after the capture of Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro, with the aim of forcing political and economic change on the island. Venezuela supplied most of Cuba's fuel, and other countries stopped exporting to the island after Trump threatened tariffs on their governments. Europa Press reported that Washington imposed the oil blockade in January while threatening sanctions and tariffs on any country delivering energy to Cuba. The resulting blackouts have left Cubans without refrigerators and lights, and hospitals and schools cannot fully operate. Diplomatic talks between Washington and Havana have stalled, according to the New York Times.

What comes next

The investigation into the seized cargoes remains open and no charges have been announced. Cuba's government maintains that the import and transport of the fuel remains legal under its national law and international law.