I had heard stories of money laundering though paladares in the past. Looks like somebody has now been at least accused of it in Havana.
"Ties to drug trafficing" is a serious accusation on top of the money-laundering.
I didn't know Lungo Mare but El Litoral was in my top 10, at least for lunch.
Shame to see them go, I can't imagine what the owner is going through.
There is a lot of the "wild-west" about doing business in Cuba with high risk/reward, along with who you know.
It's possible some owners are taking a risk too far.
http://www.havanatimes.org/?p=125698