The United States Justice Department is examining potential criminal cases against senior Cuban officials as part of a broader effort to increase legal pressure on Havana’s leadership.

According to officials familiar with the initiative, federal prosecutors in Miami have begun organizing a task force aimed at building criminal cases against figures linked to Cuba’s government and Communist Party.

The effort brings together investigators from several federal agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Treasury Department, as prosecutors search for evidence that could support indictments.

Investigators are reportedly reviewing allegations related to transnational criminal activity, including drug trafficking networks, migration-related offenses and other violations that could fall under U.S. jurisdiction.

Officials involved in the effort say the goal is to identify cases that could be brought before American courts if sufficient evidence emerges.

The initiative reflects a wider strategy by Washington to hold foreign officials accountable through the U.S. legal system.

Similar approaches have previously been used to pursue cases against international figures accused of transnational crimes, with indictments sometimes issued even when suspects remain outside the United States.

The push also comes at a time of heightened tensions between Washington and Havana.

Relations have deteriorated in recent years amid disputes over human rights, migration and political freedoms on the island.

The United States has already imposed sanctions on several Cuban officials and institutions, arguing that the measures are intended to support accountability and defend fundamental freedoms.

Cuban authorities have historically rejected such actions, describing them as politically motivated attempts to interfere in the country’s internal affairs.

Havana has consistently argued that U.S. sanctions and legal measures are part of a long-standing policy of pressure directed at the island’s political system.

The Justice Department has not publicly confirmed specific targets of the investigation, but officials say federal prosecutors routinely pursue cases involving international criminal activity when there is evidence of harm affecting U.S. interests.

Legal experts note that bringing charges against foreign officials can carry significant diplomatic implications, particularly when the individuals reside outside the reach of U.S. law enforcement.

While the investigation remains at an early stage, the effort signals an intensification of legal scrutiny toward Cuba’s leadership and underscores Washington’s willingness to employ criminal prosecutions as part of its broader foreign policy strategy.