The United States has arrested Adys Lastres Morera, the sister of the executive president of GAESA, a sprawling conglomerate of military-run businesses, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.
"Adys Lastres Morera is the sister of the Executive President of GAESA, the Cuban military-controlled financial conglomerate that steals millions in aid for the Cuban people at the behest of the regime," Rubio said on X on Thursday.
"I am pleased to announce that today, she was arrested and is now in the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement."
Cuba denies GAESA corruption
A separate statement from ICE confirmed that Morera, who entered the United States as a lawful permanent resident in 2023, is now in the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement pending removal proceedings.
Morera's presence poses a threat to the United States and undermines American foreign policy interests, the statement said.
Cuba's leadership rarely talks publicly about GAESA, which stands for Grupo de Administración Empresarial — or "business administration group."
It has long held that such discretion is necessary to confront a US trade and financial blockade that severely complicates the island's business with the outside world.
GAESA controls many of the Caribbean island's five-star hotels, its largest port at Mariel, its top commercial bank, plus a vast array of supermarkets, gas stations and remittance businesses.
The tightly controlled umbrella group was established in the 1990s by then defence minister Raúl Castro and is run by the island's Revolutionary Armed Forces.
The Trump administration accuses GAESA of hoarding profits from the country's most valuable industries and using them for the benefit of the military and the Cuban elite.
"The real reason you don't have electricity, fuel, or food is because those who control your country have plundered billions of dollars, but nothing has been used to help the people," Rubio said.
Cuba denies GAESA enrichment or corruption is at fault for the current economic crisis, and points to recent comments from United Nations experts that a Trump administration fuel blockade has led to "energy starvation" with grave consequences for human rights and development.
