Cuban warehouses looted: Close to a hundred robberies in Las Tunas in a year

Robberies in the warehouses of Las Tunas have become a serious problem that affects the economy and the families of the province.

In 2023, 97 thefts were recorded in these units, causing significant losses and leaving many families without their basic products. So far in 2024, 18 similar incidents have already been reported.

Raymel Espinosa Saborit, Director of Commerce in Las Tunas, told Periódico 26 that robberies have caused an economic impact of more than two million pesos in the eight municipalities of the province.

This figure represents 84.7% of the total losses due to theft and embezzlement in 2023, further complicating the replacement of food for consumers.

Among the stolen products are more than 43,900 pounds of brown sugar, 2,900 pounds of refined sugar, 30,000 pounds of rice, 927 liters of oil, over 1,000 coffee packs, and 1,180 pounds of beans.

These looting not only affect the warehouses but also the families that depend on these products for their basic basket.

Puerto Padre is the most affected locality, with around 30 warehouses looted and economic losses amounting to 579,890 pesos. This situation raises questions about the conditions and security of State-owned premises.

Out of the 692 warehouses in Las Tunas, more than 100 are in poor condition, with weak roofs and lacking adequate security measures. The lack of bars, locks, and alarm systems, along with the scarcity of guards, makes these storage facilities in the communities easy targets for thieves.

The official noted that they intend to create some positions for security guards, following the experience of the Colombia municipality, where the 44 warehouses have their own security agents. However, the problem persists due to the lack of people willing to take on this role.

Robberies usually occur between 2:00 and 6:00 in the morning, mainly in urban areas. Even in warehouses with security guards, criminals have managed to enter when the guards leave their post or fall asleep.

This situation is not only happening in Las Tunas, there are reports of thefts in warehouses in all provinces of the country. Recently, the theft of regulated food was reported in Santiago de Cuba, at Kilometer 6 of Carretera Central, Las Cuevas.

This looting of the warehouses occurs in the midst of a severe food shortage in Cuba, along with an inflation that leaves thousands of families without access to basic goods.