Many sources familiar with the matter say that the top prosecutor of the US Department of Justice in Miami is considering criminal investigations against Cuban government officials.
Federal prosecutor for Southern Florida Jason Reding Quiñones has formed a working group including federal prosecutors and officials from the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and other agencies to gather lawsuits against people linked to the Cuban government, an unnamed source said.
It is not yet clear which Cuban officials the office is targeting or what criminal charges prosecutors may be trying to make.
On March 6, the US Department of Justice issued a statement emphasizing, "Federal prosecutors across the country work every day to pursue justice, including efforts to combat transnational crime".
The investigation took place when US President Donald Trump raised the possibility of "friendly takeover" of Cuba.
Last month, President Donald Trump announced that his administration was holding high-level talks with officials in Havana to pursue "a friendly takeover" in Cuba.
This week, Mr. Trump reiterated the above statements, noting that he would return to the Cuba issue after the conflict with Iran passed.
According to the Washington Post, Cuba remains a top priority at the US prosecutor's office in Miami, where political, economic and cultural life is dominated by Cuban Americans. The FBI office here has a Cuban affairs task force.
In recent weeks, some Republicans in Miami have called on President Donald Trump's administration to reopen the criminal investigation into Cuba shooting down 4 aircraft of the Brothers to the Rescue group in 1996.
Although no charges have been announced, the Attorney General of Florida said this week that a state-level investigation into this case will be opened.
The administration of President Donald Trump accused Cuba of not cooperating with US counter-terrorism efforts, putting this country along with North Korea and Iran on the list of a few countries that the US considers terrorist sponsors.
This designation stems from the US's claim that Cuba shelters American defectors and refuses to extradite some rebel armed forces leaders in Colombia when these people are in the process of peace negotiations with Colombia.
