Former US Diplomat Charged With Spying For Cuban Communists

A former U.S. ambassador to Bolivia was arrested Friday reportedly on charges of working as a spy for Cuban communists. According to the Associated Press, this followed a lengthy FBI investigation into possible espionage.

Manuel Rocha, 73, was taken into custody by federal officials in Miami. The Justice Department reportedly alleged he carried out the wishes of the Havana government and did not reveal his activities as required under the Foreign Agents Registration Act.

Rocha has a long history in the foreign service, having first worked for Washington in 1981.

He was the U.S. ambassador to Bolivia from 2000 to 2002 and played a pivotal role in that nation’s upheaval at the time. Rocha threatened to eliminate American aid to the country if voters chose former coca grower Evo Morales as president in the 2002 election.

One of his accusers revealed the DOJ arrest is over Rocha’s allegedly working to promote the Cuban government’s interests without revealing his activities.

Federal law mandates that any individual who does a foreign government’s bidding must register with Washington. Indictments for such illicit activities have increased in recent years. 

The accused worked as a diplomat under several Democratic and Republican administrations. The bulk of his time served was in Latin America, particularly during the Cold War.

Rocha’s time was spent in Honduras, Mexico and the Dominican Republic and also included a stint in Italy. He was employed as a Latin American expert for a period with the National Security Council.

After he retired from the State Department, Rocha played several roles. They included work in the mining industry, a cannabis company and a public relations law firm.

Karla Wittkop Rocha, the former diplomat’s wife, responded angrily when contacted for a comment by the AP. The outlet said she replied, “I don’t need to talk to you” before hanging up.

The case harkens back to the Cold War days and the longstanding animosity between Washington and Havana. For decades, both sides spied on the other and attempted to undermine each other’s interests in the Caribbean and beyond.