Miami today stands at the verge of becoming a global hub for the art world, driven by major events like Art Basel. As artists, gallery owners, collectors, and celebrities converge, the city also reveals another map—the long history of intrigue, betrayals, and espionage that has shaped U.S.–Cuba relations.
The most recent headline that underlines this capital role centers on the arrest and indictment in South Florida. Victor Manuel Rocha A., a retired United States diplomat connected to the National Security Council, is alleged to have served as a Bolivian ambassador and adviser to the U.S. military. In the words of the Attorney General, Merrick Garland, Rocha is accused of sustained foreign-agent activity over many years, suggesting a deep-seated infiltration that touched multiple layers of government.
Rocha was born in Colombia and became a U.S. citizen in 1978. He joined the State Department three years later and was taken into FBI custody in Miami on a Friday. A federal court appearance followed, as the Southern District of Florida and federal prosecutors issued statements detailing the charges. Among them is conspiracy to act on behalf of a foreign government inside the United States without proper registration—a serious breach of the legal framework governing foreign influence and intelligence.
Officials say Rocha used his long career to maintain contact with Cuba. His work reportedly continued after he left public office in 2002 and moved into the private sector.
Fake roles and real risk
The downfall began with an undercover FBI operation that unfolded over roughly a year. An informant, posing as a Cuban intelligence asset, provided a tip that led investigators to engage Rocha in several conversations. Those interactions were recorded, and Rocha made numerous admissions about his past life in intelligence and his ties to Havana.
In the recordings Rocha described his early alignment with Cuban authorities, recounting how he was asked to lead a more normal life while remaining in service to Cuban interests. He spoke about steady progress and described his actions as disciplined and meticulous, insisting that his work had a tangible impact and helped bolster the Cuban cause.
Rocha’s career spanned embassies from the Americas to Europe. He served in the National Security Council during the mid-1990s, then held positions in the U.S. interests sections in various countries. He later led roles at the Bolivian mission and in Argentina, with access to sensitive information across three decades under both Republican and Democratic administrations.
After leaving the diplomatic corps, he reportedly advised the U.S. military on security matters. He was linked to private sector ventures, including leadership roles in a Dominican Republic mining enterprise, a Spanish public relations firm, a coal exporter in the United States, and a law firm involved in mergers in the cannabis industry.
The political posture
Rocha cultivated a reputation as a conservative figure over the years. During his tenure as ambassador in La Paz, he spoke out against political shifts in Bolivia, warning that changes could threaten American aid. In recent years, he has continued to defend his views and his record, often tying his stance to the broader U.S. approach toward Cuba and its allies.
Public records indicate a consistent alignment with hardline positions on Cuba. Rocha has been outspoken in discussions about Fidel Castro and the Cuban government, positioning the United States in opposition to Havana’s leadership.
In one recorded exchange with the undercover agent, Rocha reacted with noticeable frustration when asked about his status as a supporter of the Cuban cause. He responded with a charged, personal retort, underscoring the emotions that can accompany long-standing loyalties in the arena of espionage and diplomacy.