HSI Seizes $2.8M Fuel Shipments Bound for Cuba
Your company ships fuel out of Port Everglades or Houston — and federal agents are now watching every outbound tanker. In early October 2026, Homeland Security Investigations seized 90 biodiesel fuel shipments worth over $2.8 million that were allegedly being smuggled to Cuba through a state-owned Cuban entity, violating US sanctions and federal export laws. The case is a warning to any business or individual involved in trade with sanctioned countries: federal enforcement is active, coordinated, and ongoing.
What Happened at Port Everglades and Houston
In early September 2026, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) used trade data analysis and coordinated intelligence to spot suspicious outbound shipments of biodiesel fuel leaving two major US ports. Agents identified 90 total shipments — 71 at Port Everglades in Florida and 19 at the Port of Houston in Texas — allegedly destined for ENETEC S.A., a Cuban government-linked company. Together, those shipments held roughly 615,000 gallons of biodiesel fuel.
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Miami and HSI Houston, working alongside CBP and the Department of Commerce's Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), requested the detention and seizure of the shipments. The 71 Port Everglades shipments — about 496,000 gallons — were seized outright. The 19 Houston shipments, containing about 119,000 gallons, were still being detained as of the announcement on October 7, 2026. The total value of the seized cargo exceeded $2.8 million.
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Which Laws Were Allegedly Broken
Federal investigators cited several legal violations. The shipments allegedly broke laws against exportation contrary to law, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA — a federal law that gives the president authority to regulate commerce during a national emergency), and regulations under the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Cuba has been under US sanctions for decades, and exporting goods to Cuban government entities without proper authorization is a federal crime. HSI Special Agent in Charge Jose R. Figueroa said the seizure shows HSI's commitment to cutting off sanctioned entities from US resources through "deceptive commercial networks."
Why This Matters for Immigrants and Business Owners
Many immigrants in the US run import-export businesses or work in logistics, freight, and trade. This case is a reminder that outbound shipments — not just incoming goods — are actively monitored by CBP and federal partners. Participating in a transaction that violates US sanctions, even unknowingly as a freight broker, shipping agent, or logistics worker, can trigger federal criminal charges. Those charges carry serious immigration consequences, including removal proceedings and bars to obtaining a green card or naturalization.
What to Do
- If you work in shipping, freight, or trade, verify that every destination country and recipient company is not on the US sanctions list before processing any shipment. Check the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list at treasury.gov/ofac.
- If you receive a federal detention or seizure notice for a shipment, do not attempt to reroute or re-label cargo. Contact a licensed customs attorney or trade compliance lawyer immediately.
- If you are an immigrant and are under federal investigation for export violations, consult an immigration attorney right away — a criminal charge or conviction can affect your green card application, naturalization process, or visa status.
- Follow updates from HSI Miami on official channels; the investigation into this network is ongoing and additional arrests or charges may follow.
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Export control violations are treated seriously by federal prosecutors, and a conviction under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act can be classified as an aggravated felony — which permanently bars someone from obtaining a green card or US citizenship and triggers mandatory removal proceedings. If you are a non-citizen and your employer or business is under investigation for sanctions violations, assert your right to remain silent and request an attorney before speaking to any federal agent. An immigration attorney should be involved from day one, not after charges are filed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a sanctions violation affect my green card or immigration status?
Yes. A federal conviction for violating US export laws or sanctions — such as the International Emergency Economic Powers Act — can be classified as an aggravated felony. That can bar you from getting a green card, trigger removal proceedings, and make you permanently inadmissible to the US.
What is OFAC and how do I check if a company is sanctioned?
OFAC stands for the Office of Foreign Assets Control, a division of the US Treasury Department. It publishes the Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) list — a database of individuals, companies, and countries under US sanctions. You can search it for free at treasury.gov/ofac before doing business with any foreign entity.
I work as a freight broker or shipping agent. Am I at risk if a client ships to a sanctioned country?
Potentially yes. Federal law can hold logistics professionals liable if they knowingly — or sometimes even unknowingly — facilitate a sanctioned shipment. If you process paperwork, arrange transport, or handle payments for a shipment that ends up violating sanctions, you could face federal charges. Always verify the destination and recipient before processing any international shipment.
What should I do if federal agents contact me about a shipment I handled?
Do not answer questions without an attorney present. You have the right to remain silent. Contact a licensed customs or trade compliance attorney immediately, and if you are a non-citizen, also contact an immigration lawyer — because any federal investigation can have consequences for your visa, green card, or naturalization process.