Customs seizes 14 kilograms of drugs in five months

Cuban Customs seized 14 kilograms of drugs in the first five months of the year, in different operations to prevent trafficking by air and sea, according to official information released.

Among the narcotics, cocaine, marijuana, ecstasy and "synthetic cannabinoids" (artificial chemical compounds) predominated, theCuban News Agency(ACN).

From the confiscation operations it emerged that 12 of the people who tried to bring in drugs were Cubans and eight were foreigners "of various nationalities and origins."

Nelson Gutiérrez Acosta, director of Customs Risk Management and Control, revealed that the methods of concealing the substances were diverse and ingenious.

"In these operations against the attempts to introduce them through the air limits andseafarersof the country, the internal forces and their preparation with means and equipment stood out," he reportedCuban News Agency.

They also reported that in May 2022 a "modern office" on Real-time operational communication between international airports to combat organized crime, illicit drug trafficking and prevent terrorism (AIRCOP) was inaugurated.

In April, authorities announced the dismantling of aorganized group of Cubansresidents abroad who tried to introduce more than 300 kilograms of drugs into the country, including marijuana, cocaine and amphetamines, both by sea and by air.

Almost nine million pesos and means of transportation such as speed boats, cars and electric motorcycles were seized and a firearm was also seized.

By air"mules" have been used or "drug couriers" that introduce narcotics through household appliances such as microwave ovens, rice cookers, induction cookers.

Drugs were even introduced into motorcycle batteries that were sent from Mexico as unaccompanied cargo.

In July 2022, Cuban Customs reported the detection of11 cases of trafficking attemptsof drugs in the first half of the year, a figure below that of 2023.

Several cases of drug circulation in the country have caused alarm among Cubans.

The Cuban official press exposed the marijuana use by minors at a sports school in the province of Artemisa in the last year and in Villa Clara three children were hospitalized after consumingmarijuana candies.