TAMPA, Florida (CMC) – A 31-year-old Cuban man has pleaded guilty to migrant smuggling, asylum fraud and money laundering charges in connection with an operation that prosecutors in the United States (US) say helped thousands of Cuban nationals and other migrants enter the US illegally.

The US Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida said Yuniel Lima-Santos, a Tampa resident, conspired with others to operate a smuggling organisation that encouraged or assisted thousands of Cubans to enter the United States through the southern border and fraudulently use the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) and visa waivers.

According to court documents, the organisation advertised smuggling and fraudulent visa services on several social media platforms, targeting Cubans and other migrants seeking to enter the United States and obtain legal immigration status.