Agents of Cuba’s communist regime infiltrated a recent international sports event in the Dominican Republic, posing as athletes from other nations to surveil Cuban team members and prevent defections, according to a report published Tuesday by the Dominican newspaper Diario Libre.
The report details how undercover Cuban operatives wore foreign uniforms and mingled among competitors during the 2026 Central American and Caribbean Games, held in Santo Domingo from July 24 to August 8. According to Diario Libre‘s investigation, the agents’ presence was eventually detected by Dominican security forces, who responded with lockdowns and heightened protocols.
Surveillance and Lockdowns
The newspaper reported that Cuban state agents intensified their surveillance during the first half of the games, after two Cuban athletes had already deserted. Dominican military officials allegedly caught the agents inside an indoor competition venue as they chased athletes attempting to leave the Cuban national team, prompting a temporary lockdown and a full identification sweep of everyone inside. A similar incident reportedly occurred at an outdoor stadium.
“The recurrence of these events confirmed the initial suspicions of Dominican agencies and led to the adoption of a special security protocol in response to what was deemed an act of interference,” Diario Libre wrote.
According to the investigation, Dominican authorities identified Cuban nationals inside the games’ premises who were not accredited for security work in the country and expelled them. The newspaper said it could not determine whether those expelled were detained or subject to Dominican justice. The Dominican government has not publicly commented on the report as of press time.
Five Athletes Defect
Despite the surveillance efforts, five Cuban athletes successfully defected from the national team during the Santo Domingo games. Since then, the athletes and their relatives have alleged that agents of the Castro regime have attempted to kidnap them and forcibly return them to Cuba.
One of the defecting athletes, speaking anonymously to the independent outlet 14 y Medio, said he is in hiding out of fear for his safety, claiming regime agents had tried to abduct him and the others. The athlete’s account aligns with Diario Libre‘s findings of undercover operatives operating within the event.
Refugee Registration Begins
In a follow-up report on Wednesday, Diario Libre said two of the five athletes have started the registration process at the Dominican Republic’s refugee office to gain protection in the country, while the other three await their turn. Unnamed sources told the newspaper that the process could take time because Cuban officials withheld the athletes’ passports upon their arrival.
José Alberto Fernández, who leads the association of Cubans living in the Dominican Republic, told Diario Libre that his organization has provided the athletes with legal assistance and logistical support.
Diplomatic Expulsions
The defections came amid a separate diplomatic row: the Dominican Republic’s Foreign Ministry expelled nine officials from the Cuban embassy in Santo Domingo. The government has not disclosed the reasons behind the expulsions or whether they are connected to the athletes. In an official statement, the Foreign Ministry said, “no further details regarding this matter will be provided.”
Listín Diario reported that the Cuban ambassador to the Dominican Republic was among those who departed Santo Domingo on Sunday, August 16, though the names and ranks of the other expelled diplomats remain unknown.
Decades of Control
The Castro regime has long maintained strict oversight of Cuban athletes who travel abroad, deploying agents to prevent defections and punish those who attempt to flee. Despite these measures, many Cuban athletes have over the years managed to break away from their teams and escape communism—this latest case in Santo Domingo being just one example.
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/latin-america/2026/08/19/report-cuban-agents-posed-as-athletes-during-dominican-republic-games/