State store in Santa Clara hides bicycles to avoid selling them to the public.

A Cuban state store, known as a foreign currency collector (TRD), was exposed on social media after it was discovered that they had hidden merchandise to avoid selling it to the public.

The incident occurred last Saturday, August 31, at the TRD La Orquídea, located in the Doce Plantas building of Sandino, a busy area of the Villa Clara capital.

According to the Facebook profile Inspección Villa Clara, inspectors from the area arrived at the location to address a complaint from the public, which turned out to be confirmed. "They had informed the public that the product was out of stock," they stated on the profile.

However, it was confirmed that "there were 10 Minerva 26 bicycles in storage at a price of 31,000 Cuban pesos. Retained without justifiable cause for their marketing," they indicated.

For this reason, a fine of 8,000 Cuban pesos was imposed on those responsible, in accordance with Decree 30 of 2021.

They also stated that the bicycles were put "immediately for sale," meanwhile, "the request for disciplinary action will be sent."

Regarding state-owned businesses, the Cuban government has not been explicit about the measures being implemented to prevent them from hiding goods amidst a significant scarcity in the country; however, they have been more aggressive in these processes with private businesses.

The Minister of Finance and Prices in Cuba, Vladimir Regueiro Ale, has warned the owners of micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (mipymes) that hiding merchandise and not selling it to the population is a "serious crime."

"In many cases, we have had to order the forced sales of goods," he said on a television program regarding the implementation of Resolution 225, which imposes a price cap on six essential products in the country.

The crisis the country faces, due to the inability of the rulers to meet the most basic needs of the Cubans, and which is not justification for actions like the one that occurred in Santa Clara, has led to a proliferation of criminal activities such as corruption, theft, and violence on the island.