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Three Cubans were arrested 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 specified 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 dedicated to the sale of "papelitos," which is also popularly known as "el químico," a synthetic cannabinoid that has been causing significant harm in Cuba in recent years.
According to witnesses, in a desperate attempt to get rid of the evidence, one of the individuals involved tried to throw the packages down a drain. However, the swift intervention of the police reportedly prevented the evidence from being lost.
The authorities' actions have been met with cautious optimism by the residents of the area.
According to the official source—proud of the alleged effectiveness of the police—some residents comment that recently adopted measures have changed the atmosphere of the neighborhood, creating a greater sense of tranquility.
However, these actions are also expected to be part of a sustained effort to eradicate drug trafficking in the area.
Marianao, one of the Havana municipalities 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 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.
"There are the trafficking bases. There is a culture of consumption. The main drug traffickers and consumers are there," explained Colonel Juan Carlos Poey, head of the specialized agency for counter-narcotics operations.
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 has transitioned from synthetic cannabinoids to methamphetamines (pills, powders, or crystal psycho-stimulants). This is because addiction increasingly demands higher doses and stronger substances.
The operations against drug trafficking have become more evident in recent months, although the population still demands greater toughness and effectiveness.
In September, a total of 22 people were arrested in Havana, accused of selling "the chemical."
In December, a Cuban who was engaged in drug dealing in zone 4 of Alamar, in the Havana municipality of Habana del Este, was arrested during a police operation. In this case, the detainee was identified as responsible for the poisoning 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.
Recently, 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 footage, they are often seen in the midst of convulsions, screaming, with loss of motor control, and engaging in dangerous acts.
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