The authorities of Santiago de Cuba carried out a police operation that resulted in the arrest of several individuals involved in an international drug trafficking scheme.
Granma pointed out that the alleged group of criminals was led by an organizer with strong ties in Jamaica. The individual was attempting to establish an operational base in the Guamá municipality for the distribution of cocaine and synthetic drugs.
During the operation, 300 pounds of marijuana, firearms, cash, mobile phones, and speedboats were seized, highlighting the level of organization and resources of the traffickers.
Lieutenant Colonel Abraham Estonlle Río, head of the international drug trafficking department, stated that the network had planned to introduce drugs into Cuba and establish a logistical support point for future operations.
While Cuban authorities celebrate the success of this operation, the case also highlights the vulnerability of the island's coasts and the persistence of criminal networks seeking to exploit these gaps in national security.
The prosecution has requested prison sentences ranging from 20 to 30 years for the accused. They argue that these sentences reflect the "zero tolerance policy of the Cuban government towards drug trafficking".
Carlos Martín García, provincial prosecutor, pointed out that the Cuban Penal Code includes penalties that range from long prison sentences to the death penalty for crimes of this magnitude.
"These measures are a clear message to any criminal organization that Cuba will not tolerate drug trafficking," Garcia stated.
This week, Cuban television aired another report on the dismantling of a criminal network that used digital platforms to offer services related to fake migration procedures, and then violently robbed large sums of money from the victims.
The scheme of robberies and human trafficking was developed by a group of five men and two women. Crimes involving violence face severe judicial penalties of up to 30 years in prison.
In this case, the penalties were between 25 and 28 years in prison for six of those involved, and one individual received a penalty of five years of deprivation of liberty.