U.S. intercepts $3 million worth of fuel shipments to Cuba as energy blockade tightens

The U.S. has intercepted 90 Cuba-bound shipments of biodiesel — valued at nearly $3 million — widening a U.S.-imposed oil blockade led by the Department of Homeland Security aimed at choking off illegally trafficked fuel, routed to the sanctioned island's crisis-hit energy sector.

According to DHS, federal agencies first uncovered intelligence revealing that fuel exported from the United States was being sent to the sanctioned state-owned company weeks ago, in violation of recent U.S. export restrictions.

While authorities seized 71 oil storage tanks at Port Everglades containing roughly 500,000 gallons of biodiesel, an additional 19 shipments containing about 120,000 gallons were captured at the Port of Houston, according to the agency.

HSI said the interdictions were carried out amid suspected violations of federal export laws, including the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, plus regulations governing exports subject to the Export Administration Regulations.

HSI Miami Special Agent in Charge Jose Figueroa vowed in a statement that the agency would work with partners to "continue to identify, disrupt and investigate efforts to evade U.S. sanctions, protect the integrity of U.S. export controls and deny the Cuban government access to resources obtained in violation of U.S. law."

"U.S. Customs and Border Protection is steadfast in enforcing the laws of the United States across all domains, encompassing both incoming commerce and outbound shipments," said Daniel Alonso, director of field operations.

Earlier this year, President Trump sought to cut off most energy shipments to Cuba by threatening tariffs on any country that sells or provides oil to the country.

The Trump administration has pressed Cuba — which has been run for more than half a century by the Fidel Castro-founded Communist Party — to make sweeping economic and political changes, and has accused the regime of working with Russia, China and Iran.

Cuban officials, meanwhile, accused the U.S. of "economic warfare" and "aggression" earlier this year.

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