A former U.S. ambassador to Bolivia, Manuel Rocha, has been arrested in Miami as part of an FBI counterintelligence investigation.
Accused of secretly working as an agent for Cuba’s government, the arrest followed a lengthy probe.
Rocha’s diplomatic career spanned 25 years, involving posts in Latin America during the Cold War.
The Justice Department is expected to reveal more details during a court appearance.
Rocha, who served under both Democratic and Republican administrations, faces allegations of promoting Cuban government interests without registering with the Justice Department, a requirement for those involved in foreign lobbying within the U.S.
Born in Colombia, Rocha later pursued liberal arts degrees from Yale, Harvard, and Georgetown before joining the foreign service in 1981.
His career included diplomatic roles in Argentina, Bolivia, Italy, Honduras, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic.
Following retirement, Rocha entered the business sector, holding positions in gold mining and various companies.
The Justice Department has yet to comment, and it remains unclear if Rocha has legal representation.
