This week, the Federal Prosecutor’s Office of Tampa, in Hillsborough County, Florida, formally accused the Cuban-American Mirtza Ocaña Lara of smuggling, this after the woman tried to enter the United States last February with more than 100,000 dollars (USD) in undeclared cash.
With this, Ocaña Lara, 38 years old, officially faces two serious charges of smuggling. While the arrest of the Cuban-American woman occurred at the beginning of February, the charges were only established until now, after an arduous investigation.
According to the digital media Strong coffeethe document of Ocaña’s case indicates that the charges he faces are for cash smuggling and conspiracy with an unidentified person to transport, transfer and introduce money illegally into the United States.
The charges were established after deliberation by a grand jury of the Central District of Florida, which took into account all the information contained in the criminal complaint issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
This five-page document indicates that the woman tried to enter the United States with 102,709 USD from Cuba, which were hidden in different parts of her luggage.
The hearing against Ocaña will take place on Tuesday, March 12, and a federal court in Tampa must wait to see if the woman will plead guilty or if a trial will proceed against her.
Ocaña related in the case of Alejandro Gil
It is important to note that the independent media CubaNet recently assured that, according to sources within Cuba, The former Minister of Economy of Cuba, Alejandro Gil Fernández, had been accused of being related to Cuban-Americanism and money traffickingsomething that has not been officially confirmed.
The information assured that Ocaña was detained under house arrest, and that she had been cooperating with the North American authorities in exchange for a reduced sentence. During these interrogations, Gil’s name would have come up numerous times.
Weeks ago, the woman acknowledged that she was paid up to USD 2,000 for each flight she took between Cuba and the United States to transport money, and that she had made more than 40 the previous year.
The fact that Cuban Customs never found the money hidden in the woman’s luggage, despite its technology and strict restrictions, suggests that the woman had the support of a high official to carry out these activities.
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