Key facts
- U.S. authorities seized 90 shipments of biodiesel bound for Cuba, worth nearly $3 million.
- The seized fuel totaled over 600,000 gallons.
- The shipments were intercepted in Houston and Port Everglades.
- The fuel was destined for Enetec, a state-owned Cuban fuel company.
- The U.S. has been tightening its energy sector blockade on Cuba.
U.S. authorities announced on Wednesday that they had seized 90 separate shipments of biodiesel bound for Cuba, valued at nearly $3 million. This action marks the second time in a week that U.S. authorities have announced the seizure of fuel destined for the island nation.
The enforcement action is part of the Trump administration's ongoing efforts to restrict Cuba's energy sector, with the stated goal of undermining the Cuban government. Jose Figueroa, Miami Special Agent in Charge for the Department of Homeland Security, stated that the seized shipments were intended for Enetec, a state-owned fuel company in Havana that was sanctioned by the U.S. earlier this year. The fuel was intercepted in Houston and at Port Everglades in south Florida before it could depart the U.S.
Figueroa indicated that such large-scale efforts to circumvent U.S. sanctions do not happen accidentally and warned those seeking to undermine U.S. law to finance such efforts. Cuba's government had not immediately commented on the seizure. The U.S. blockade on fuel to Cuba has been criticized by the United Nations as "illegal" and by Cuba's government as "economic warfare," contributing to worsening blackouts, water shortages, and inflation on the island.
Earlier, the U.S. Coast Guard had announced the interception of a large container ship in September that was carrying fuel for Cuba and had allegedly attempted to evade authorities by hiding fuel in its ballast tanks. The identities of the exporters in both cases have not been revealed by the U.S.