Related videos:
The driver of a state-owned vehicle was apprehended while transporting more than 3,000 boxes of cigarettes and approximately 200,000 pesos in the municipality of Manzanillo, Granma province.
Sources associated with the Ministry of the Interior (MININT) reported that the driver was caught with the cargo and the money on the road near the Manzanillo cemetery.
The police intercepted the vehicle in the area and during the search found five cardboard boxes containing over 3,000 packs of Criollos brand cigars, which lacked the required legal documentation, as well as 200,000 pesos in cash, noted a post on the Facebook profile Entérate con Aytana Alama, associated with MININT.
Probably, the cigars were intended for illegal marketing, although the text did not specify this. The driver was arrested. His identity and the name of the state-owned company that owns the car he was driving were not disclosed.
In the comments on the post, a user argued that these "corrupt businesses" supply private ventures, self-employed individuals, or neighborhood "points" with products of state origin.
“Stealing resources, state vehicles, and fuel, corrupt dealings—this is a SUPPLY CHAIN that involves more than just the driver. There’s a company, a warehouse, a manager of that vehicle, an accountant who oversees the product in the state entity, and even someone who handles the 'prevention plan,'” the man warned. “We need to ground our discussions in reality... paperwork and plans on one side, and reality on the other...”
In March, authorities arrested a man in the municipality of San Cristóbal, in the province of Artemisa, after discovering a large quantity of Popular blue brand cigars in his home, allegedly obtained illegally.
A similar case was reported in Santiago de Cuba in January when a private sector motorist was intercepted at the El Cristo checkpoint while transporting more than 85 wheels of Criollo cigars for illegal sale.
Amid the growing economic crisis and severe product shortages, numerous items have reached exorbitant prices in the informal market, including cigarettes.
Smoking in Cuba has become a luxury, inaccessible to many, with prices that multiply the official value of a pack by up to 20.
The National Office of Statistics and Information of Cuba (ONEI) revealed that in February, the monthly variation of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) was 2.75%, with the category of “Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco” being the most affected.
In particular, the price of strong cigars increased by 58.72%, reflecting the impact of the crisis and speculation in the market.
According to data from the ONEI, the price of this product varies significantly in the provincial capitals of the country: reaching highs of up to 1,100 pesos in Camagüey; 1,000 in Havana, Santa Clara, and Las Tunas, and lows of 300 to 700 pesos in other Cuban regions.
The domestic cigar production is facing distribution issues and a shortage of raw materials, while the illegal market takes advantage of this situation to sell at exorbitant prices.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Detention in Manzanillo for Cigarette Smuggling
What happened in Manzanillo with the driver of a state car?
The driver of a state-owned vehicle was detained in Manzanillo, Granma province, while transporting more than 3,000 boxes of cigars and approximately 200,000 pesos in cash, without the required legal documentation.
What is the situation of the cigarette market in Cuba?
Due to the economic crisis and the scarcity of products in Cuba, cigars have reached exorbitant prices in the informal market, with prices increasing up to 20 times their official value.
Why are cigarettes so expensive in the informal Cuban market?
The shortage of raw materials and distribution issues in the national cigar production have enabled the illegal market to sell at significantly inflated prices, worsening the economic situation for Cubans.
What is the connection between this case and corruption in Cuban state-owned enterprises?
The case of Manzanillo reflects a pattern of corruption and resource diversion in Cuban state-owned enterprises, where vehicles and state products are used for illegal activities, suggesting the existence of broader networks of complicity.
Filed under: