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The Cuban police have recently deployed antidrug operations in the municipalities of Marianao and Guanabacoa in Havana, which resulted in the detention of several suspects involved in narcotics trafficking, according to official sources.
A brief note from the Municipal Government of Guanabacoa reported this Monday on Facebook that a police operation against drugs was carried out in Quinta Corona, in the D’Beche neighborhood, in the municipality of Havana. “Without hesitation,” the note emphasized, providing no details about the operation.
It was a profile linked to the Ministry of the Interior (Minint) identified by the name of Elizabeth Ferrer that provided more information, asserting that “two individuals allegedly involved” in drug trafficking were arrested, an activity that has increased and spread uncontrollably throughout the country in recent years.
According to the account, "reliable" sources "sent" him the photos of the moment when the police conducted the operation in the neighborhood of Guanabacoa and information regarding the arrest of two suspects, who were not identified by their names.
The profile announced that “there are other cases, which demonstrates the seriousness with which this problem is being addressed and confronted in our society” and anticipated that it would reveal “more details about this and other cases and how the situation is progressing in various municipalities.”
Precisely, this Tuesday, the same profile reported on a similar operation in the Pocito Palmar People's Council, in the municipality of Marianao.
"The forces of the Ministry of the Interior (Minint) have launched a determined offensive against drugs, and I have been informed by reliable sources and followers that, in that area, one of the main individuals involved in this clandestine operation has been arrested," the note indicated.
Furthermore, he emphasized that the action occurred thanks to "a combination of surveillance and community collaboration" to "identify and neutralize threats to social well-being in this neighborhood and other municipalities."
The note describes the "joint effort between police forces and residents to prevent and combat illegal activities" as "crucial."
However, it avoids mentioning that in recent years, the increase in drug sales, such as "the chemical", in neighborhoods across the country has been alarming, and the authorities have acted too slowly to curb the rise in trafficking and consumption among young people.
As of the publication of this report, official media remains silent regarding the recent drug operations.
In mid-January, a police operation in Cocosolo Zamora, in the municipality of Marianao, resulted in the arrest of three individuals involved in the sale of “papelitos”, a term that is also popularly known as “el químico,” the synthetic cannabinoid that has made headlines in Cuba in recent years.
Marianao, La Lisa, Arroyo Naranjo, and San Miguel del Padrón were the municipalities with the highest drug traffic and consumption in Havana up to 2024, as reported on state television by Colonel Juan Carlos Poey of Minint, head of the specialized anti-drug agency.
Poey stated that “these areas are the hubs of trafficking. There is a culture of consumption. The main traffickers and drug users are found there” and added that in the neighborhoods of La Güinera (Arroyo Naranjo) and El Palenque (La Lisa) the consumption of methamphetamines has been detected, which means that drug addiction has escalated in severity and has shifted from synthetic cannabinoids to methamphetamines (pills, powders, or crystal stimulants).
The police arrested 22 people in Havana in September 2024, accused of selling "the chemical".
A Cuban who was engaged in the sale of the same drug in Alamar, a municipality in East Havana, was arrested in December during a police operation after being identified as the individual responsible for the poisoning of a person who consumed the narcotic sold by him.
In a landmark trial, the Provincial Court of Camagüey sentenced 19 years of imprisonment to an inmate who brought "the chemical" into the prison where he was serving a previous sentence.
Frequently asked questions about drug enforcement operations in Havana
Which municipalities in Havana have been the focus of recent anti-drug operations?
The anti-drug operations have focused on the municipalities of Marianao and Guanabacoa, where recent police actions have resulted in the arrest of several suspects involved in drug trafficking. These municipalities, along with others such as La Lisa, Arroyo Naranjo, and San Miguel del Padrón, have been identified as areas with high levels of drug trafficking and consumption.
What drug is known as "the chemical," and why is it dangerous?
"The chemical" is a synthetic cannabinoid that mimics the effects of marijuana, but is much more potent and dangerous. This drug is manufactured without health controls using toxic ingredients, which can lead to devastating effects such as euphoria, alterations in perception, seizures, and, in the long term, irreversible damage to mental and physical health.
How have Cuban authorities reacted to the increase in drug trafficking?
Cuban authorities have intensified drug enforcement operations, especially in Havana, detaining individuals involved in drug trafficking, such as "the chemist." However, the response has been criticized for being delayed and the operations are considered insufficient to curb the alarming rise in drug trafficking and consumption, particularly among young people.
What has been the community response to the anti-drug operations in Havana?
The community has shown moderate optimism regarding the recent arrests, but it also demands that these actions be part of a sustained effort to eradicate drug trafficking. Community collaboration has been key in identifying trafficking hotspots, but the population continues to call for greater effectiveness and swiftness from the authorities.
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