SANCTIONED BY OFAC EO 13818 (Global Magnitsky)

Lázaro Alberto Álvarez Casas

Minister of the Interior of Cuba (MININT) — in office since 2020-11-24

Spanish title: Ministro del Interior de la República de Cuba Nationality: Cuban Last verified:

Army Corps General Lázaro Alberto Álvarez Casas has led Cuba's Ministry of the Interior (MININT) since November 2020 — and is sanctioned by OFAC under Global Magnitsky.

Quick facts

  • Role: Minister of the Interior of Cuba (MININT)
  • Spanish title: Ministro del Interior de la República de Cuba
  • In office since: 2020-11-24
  • Nationality: Cuban
  • Affiliations: Ministry of the Interior (MININT); Politburo of the PCC
  • Sanctioned by OFAC: Yes — EO 13818 (Global Magnitsky)

Biography

Lázaro Alberto Álvarez Casas was appointed Minister of the Interior of Cuba on 24 November 2020 by President Miguel Díaz-Canel, succeeding Vice Admiral Julio César Gandarilla Bermejo, who died in office. He was promoted to the rank of Army Corps General (General de Cuerpo de Ejército) in June 2025.

A law graduate, Álvarez Casas spent most of his career in Military Counterintelligence before taking over the Internal Counterintelligence Directorate of MININT in 2015 and serving as a Vice Minister prior to his promotion to Minister.

MININT is the parent ministry of the Cuban national police, the political police (Departamento de Seguridad del Estado, DSE), the Border Guard Troops, and the prisons system — every branch of Cuban internal security excluding the FAR itself. The U.S. Treasury designated MININT and Álvarez Casas personally under Executive Order 13818 (Global Magnitsky) on 19 January 2021 for serious human-rights abuses against protesters and dissidents. The designation remains active.

Career timeline

  • : Becomes head of the Internal Counterintelligence Directorate of MININT.
  • : Appointed Minister of the Interior (24 November).
  • : Designated by OFAC under EO 13818 (Global Magnitsky), 19 January.
  • : Promoted to General de Cuerpo de Ejército (Army Corps General).

OFAC sanctions cross-reference

Lázaro Alberto Álvarez Casas is currently designated by the U.S. Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control under EO 13818 (Global Magnitsky). See the live OFAC Cuba SDN list of individuals and the Cuba Sanctions Tracker for the active designation record.

Related people

Frequently asked questions

▸ Who is Lázaro Álvarez Casas?
Lázaro Alberto Álvarez Casas is the Minister of the Interior of Cuba, head of MININT, in office since 24 November 2020. He holds the rank of Army Corps General (promoted June 2025) and is a Politburo member.
▸ Is Álvarez Casas sanctioned by the United States?
Yes. The U.S. Treasury OFAC designated Álvarez Casas and the Ministry of the Interior under Executive Order 13818 (Global Magnitsky) on 19 January 2021 for serious human-rights abuses. The designation remains active. U.S. persons are generally prohibited from dealing with him.
▸ What is MININT?
MININT is the Ministerio del Interior de Cuba — the Ministry of the Interior. It oversees the Cuban national police, the State Security political police (DSE), the Border Guard Troops and the prison system. Distinct from MINFAR (the armed forces ministry), MININT handles internal security and intelligence.

Sources and further reading

Useful tools and explainers

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