The Wasp Network: Cuban Spies in the US

The US government has charged Raúl Castro with murder.

Topic: History

The story happened on Sun 31 May 2026 at 1:02pm.

Cuban spies were heroes in Cuba after they were caught.

The FBI arrested 10 people in Miami in 1998.

They were part of a Cuban spy ring called The Wasp Network.

The spies' trials were long and controversial in the early 2000s.

The US is now putting more pressure on Cuba's government.

Raúl Castro was charged with murder earlier this month.

The charges are about a 1996 incident where two planes were shot down.

The Wasp Network gave Castro information to help with the attack.

But the spies did not get any important secrets.

The spies were watching Cuban exiles.

There was a lot of tension between the US and Cuba in the 1990s.

Many people were trying to leave Cuba on makeshift rafts.

A group called Brothers to the Rescue was helping the people who were leaving.

Cuba did not like what Brothers to the Rescue was doing.

Cuba sent The Wasp Network to the US to gather information.

The spies were very busy with their personal lives.

They had to remember fake stories and take on day jobs.

The spies were struggling to make ends meet.

The US government has indicted Raúl Castro on murder charges.

The spies spent a lot of time working to make money.

They had to account for every meal and purchase.

One spy, Giro, talked about the problems they were having.

Giro said one spy was very tired and had dark circles under his eyes.

Another spy was working so hard he had no time for spy work.

Giro was worried about having a romantic relationship.

He wrote about his concerns in a report.

Another spy, Lorient, was worried about his girlfriend.

Lorient tried to avoid talking about marriage.

Gerardo Hernández was the leader of The Wasp Network.

The spies had many personal problems.

One spy, Julia, was not doing her job well.

Julia was having health problems and was embarrassed.

The spies were caught by the FBI in 1998.

Giro asked an FBI agent who had made a mistake.

The spies were not supposed to admit to working for Cuba.

The FBI found a lot of evidence against the spies.

The US government indicted 14 spies, but four were not caught.

Five spies pleaded guilty and cooperated with the government.

The remaining spies, known as The Cuban Five, pleaded not guilty.

The Cuban Five were considered heroes in Cuba.

Giro was charged with many crimes, including conspiracy to commit murder.

Giro's alias was Manuel Viramontes.

Giro was the spymaster of The Wasp Network.

Giro was sentenced to two life terms plus 18 years.

Giro was released in 2014 as part of a prisoner swap.

Lorient's alias was Rolando Gonzalez-Diaz.

Lorient worked at a naval air station and gathered information.

Lorient was sentenced to life in prison, but it was reduced to 21 years.

Lorient was released in 2014 as part of a prisoner swap.

Vicky's alias was Ruben Campa.

Vicky was charged with many crimes, including conspiracy.

Vicky was sentenced to 19 years, but it was reduced to 17 years.

Vicky was released in 2014 and deported to Cuba.

Castor infiltrated the Democracy Movement and Brothers to the Rescue.

Castor was sentenced to 15 years and was released in 2011.

Allan's alias was Luis Medina III.

Allan led the infiltration of the US Southern Command.

Allan was sentenced to life in prison, but it was reduced to 30 years.

Allan was released in 2014 as part of a prisoner swap.

0-5 infiltrated the Democracy Movement.

0-5 was sentenced to seven years as part of a plea deal.

Judith infiltrated a right-wing Cuban exile group.

Judith was sentenced to seven years as part of a plea deal.

Manolo observed aircraft activity at a US air force base.

Manolo was sentenced to seven years as part of a plea deal.

Mario provided information about the US Southern Command.

Mario was sentenced to four years as part of a plea deal.

Julia provided information about the US Southern Command.

Julia was sentenced to three and a half years as part of a plea deal.

A-4's alias was Albert Manuel Ruiz.

A-4 was the spymaster of The Wasp Network.

A-4 was not arrested by US authorities.

Roco's alias was Ricardo Villareal.

Roco was charged with conspiracy and acting as a foreign agent.

Roco was not arrested by US authorities.

Remi's alias was Remijio Luna.

Remi was charged with conspiracy and acting as a foreign agent.

Remi was not arrested by US authorities.

German infiltrated Brothers to the Rescue.

German was charged with conspiracy and acting as a foreign agent.

German was not arrested by US authorities.

The defence attorneys for The Cuban Five said they worked for Cuba.

The Cuban Five said they did not harm the US or get any secrets.

The Cuban Five said they only gathered information to defend Cuba.

The Cuban Five became heroes in Cuba during their trial.

The trial of The Cuban Five was controversial because it was held in Miami.

The defence attorneys wanted to move the trial to a different location.

The jury did not include any Cuban-Americans, but many had negative views of Cuba.

The trial went ahead in Miami, and all five were found guilty.

The United Nations said The Cuban Five did not get a fair trial.

The Cuban Five were released from prison as part of a diplomatic prisoner swap.

The Wasp Network is back in the news because of its connection to the downing of two planes.

The story happened on Sun 31 May 2026 at 1:02pm.

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