Miami-Dade County Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez Warns Miami-Dade Businesses Following New Federal Sanctions Targeting the Port of Mariel Network

Miami-Dade County Tax Collector Dariel Fernandez today warned local businesses to immediately review commercial, financial, shipping, and intermediary relationships that could involve newly sanctioned entities connected to the Cuban communist socialist dictatorship, including entities associated with the Port of Mariel.

The U.S. Department of State announced the designation of nine entities and two individuals pursuant to Executive Order 14404 as part of an effort to restrict the Cuban regime’s access to funds, including revenue obtained through sanctions evasion and the exploitation of medical workers. 

“The Cuban communist socialist dictatorship does not survive on ideology alone. It survives on money, state-controlled enterprises, corporate intermediaries, and commercial networks designed to conceal who ultimately benefits,” Fernandez said. “Every business owner should know their customer, their vendor, their shipper, their freight forwarder, and the ultimate beneficiary of every transaction. Ignorance is not an excuse.”

Among the newly designated entities are Terminal de Contenedores de Mariel S.A. and Coral Marítima S.A. The Department of State identified Terminal de Contenedores de Mariel as Cuba’s principal container terminal and stated that the Port of Mariel was transferred between the entities in a mid-June transaction intended to evade sanctions. 

“The federal government has now specifically identified the principal container terminal at the Port of Mariel and related entities,” Fernandez said. “Businesses should investigate the parties involved, review current federal guidance, and obtain qualified legal advice before moving money or goods.”

As part of the 2026-2027 Local Business Tax issuance and renewal process, customers must complete the required attestation regarding Cuba-related business activities. The attestation may be completed online or at a Miami-Dade County Tax Collector office before the Local Business Tax Receipt is issued or renewed. 

Florida law authorizes an appropriate tax collector or local governing authority to request a sworn affidavit or declaration regarding whether a business is doing business with Cuba in violation of federal law. The law also provides that a person who knowingly makes a false declaration commits perjury by false written declaration, a third-degree felony. 

“This attestation is a sworn declaration. Read it carefully, understand what you are declaring, and answer it truthfully. Knowingly submitting a false declaration is perjury by false written declaration, a third-degree felony under Florida law.”

Failure to complete the required attestation may prevent the issuance or renewal of a Local  Business Tax Receipt. Florida law also authorizes the Tax Collector to revoke or refuse to renew a receipt when the statutory requirements are satisfied. 

Dariel Fernandez

Tax Collector