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Three Cubans were detained this Thursday in a police operation in Cocosolo Zamora, in the Havana municipality of Marianao.
There was a "large operation" on Calle 144 between 37 and 39, and on 144 between 39 and 41, as stated on social media by the official profile of Elizabeth Ferrer.
During the raid, a couple was arrested consisting of a man known as "Pocholo" and his partner, named "Yamicel." The third person arrested is known by the nickname "El Tosky."
The three were engaged in the sale of "papelitos," a colloquial term for "el químico," a synthetic cannabinoid that has been causing significant harm in Cuba in recent years.
According to witnesses, in a desperate attempt to dispose of the evidence, one of the individuals involved tried to throw the packages down a drain. However, the quick intervention of the police is said to have prevented the evidence from being lost.
The authorities' actions have been met with moderate optimism by the residents of the area.
According to the official source—which boasts about the alleged effectiveness of the police—some residents have noted that recent measures adopted have changed the atmosphere of the neighborhood, creating a greater sense of peace.
However, these actions are also expected to be part of a sustained effort to eradicate drug trafficking in the area.
Marianao, one of the municipalities in Havana with the highest traffic
At the beginning of December, it was revealed that Marianao, La Lisa, Arroyo Naranjo, and San Miguel del Padrón are the municipalities with the highest rates of drug trafficking and consumption in Havana, as explained by a colonel from the Ministry of the Interior (MININT) on the television program "Hacemos Cuba," hosted by the regime’s spokesperson Humberto López.
"That is where the trafficking bases are concentrated. There is a culture of consumption. The main traffickers and drug consumers are there," explained Colonel Juan Carlos Poey, head of the specialized anti-drug enforcement agency.
It has also been specified that in the neighborhoods of La Güinera (Arroyo) and El Palenque (La Lisa), the consumption of methamphetamines has already been detected, indicating that drug addiction has escalated and shifted from synthetic cannabinoids to methamphetamines (pills, powders, or psycho-stimulating crystals). This is due to the fact that addiction increasingly demands higher doses and that these doses need to be stronger.
Operations against drug trafficking have become more evident in recent months, although the population is still demanding greater toughness and effectiveness.
In September, a total of 22 people were detained in Havana, accused of selling "the chemical".
In December, a Cuban who was engaged in drug sales in zone 4 of Alamar, in the municipality of Habana del Este, was arrested during a police operation. The detainee was identified as being responsible for the intoxication of an individual due to the consumption of this substance.
In a landmark trial held last December, the Provincial Court of Camagüey sentenced a prisoner to 19 years of imprisonment for introducing the drug known as "the chemical" into the prison where he was serving a prior sentence.
In recent days, a couple was detained in Holguín after authorities discovered they were transporting drugs and a significant amount of cash.
In recent months, shocking scenes of young Cubans under the influence of "the chemical" have raised alarm after going viral on social media. In the images, they are often seen in the midst of convulsions, screaming, with loss of motor skills and engaged in reckless acts.
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