British 'spies' released by Cuba without charge

LONDON, England -- Seven Britons suspected of spying in Cuba are preparing to return home after being released without charge after seven weeks in detention.

The UK Foreign Office confirmed the seven were freed on Saturday from detention without being charged with any offences.

The six men and a woman, who were arrested on October 8 on the Communist-run Caribbean island, were said to have been working as private detectives.

Cuban officials told British diplomats that the methods used by the Britons during their private investigation, believed to include covert surveillance, infringed Cuban laws, which stringently protect national security.

The group had been investigating a case of marital infidelity involving a Havana-based businessman.

"They have been released and consular staff are with them," a Foreign Office spokeswoman said on Sunday.

"We've been pressing for them to be either charged or released for the duration of their detention."

Foreign Office Minister Baroness Scotland welcomed the release, saying British diplomats had been praised for their handling of the situation.

"In confirming their release the Cuban government told the British ambassador that the resolution of this matter was a tribute to the bilateral relationship and to the serious and sensitive way the matter had been handled by the British embassy in Havana."

The six men worked for SIP Investigations, a private investigations company based in Snaresbrook, east London. The woman was the girlfriend of one of the men.

Four of the Britons were identified as company boss Ken Lodge, Jonathan Fawcett, Derek Pitt and Michele Lacorte.

Lodge's 70-year-old mother, May, told the UK's Press Association that she was stunned to hear of his release.

"I'm stunned, I'm lost for words. That's all the news I wanted to hear," she said.

Reuters contributed to this report.

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Foreign Office

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