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Two men were arrested in Cárdenas after stealing more than 1,100 meters of electrical cable from a state-owned company and attempting to extract the copper by burning it in the yard of a nearby house.
The incident occurred at the "José Valdez Reyes" Railway Industrial Company, where the alleged responsible individuals, identified as José Antonio Zamora Gonzáles and Emilio Vinageras Sardina, stole a total of 1,158 meters of cable, according to the official profile "Con Todos La Victoria" on Facebook.
In its post, the page affiliated with the Cuban regime mocked the incident, describing it as a failed recycling attempt.
"What began as an attempt at 'recycling' ended with the plant shut down and them, of course, detained," the publication noted.
The suspects reportedly tried to obtain copper from the stolen material by burning the cables in a yard, a rudimentary method that is common among those looking to sell the metal on the black market.
However, their plan did not go unnoticed, and the authorities acted quickly, assuming the allied profile of the regime.
The economic crisis in Cuba has led to an increase in the theft of electrical, telephonic, and railway materials, due to the high demand for copper and other metals in the illegal market.
In 2024, the theft of 300 liters of dielectric oil left the Dos Caminos community, in the municipality of San Luis, Santiago de Cuba, without electricity, impacting both the population and the local economy.
Beatriz Johnson Urrutia, the first secretary of the PCC in Santiago de Cuba, reported on Facebook that the incident occurred when the area's transformer suffered a serious breakdown due to the theft of this essential input for its operation.
In 2024, the province of Ciego de Ávila faced a complex energy landscape, worsened by a shortage of transformers and the loss of more than 13,700 liters of dielectric oil due to criminal incidents reported in several municipalities.
The theft of dielectric oil, used in transformers for insulation and cooling of components, has caused serious repercussions for the province's ability to cope with the increase in blackouts, already affected by the fuel shortage in the country and the ongoing breakdowns in thermoelectric plants.
Frequently Asked Questions about Cable Thefts and the Energy Crisis in Cuba
Why is the theft of cables and electrical materials common in Cuba?
The theft of cables and electrical materials in Cuba has become common due to the economic crisis facing the country, which has driven up the demand for metals like copper in the black market. The lack of resources and opportunities leads some to commit these crimes to earn extra income.
What are the consequences of cable theft for Cuba's electrical infrastructure?
The theft of cables causes interruptions in the electric service, affecting both the population and the local economy. Furthermore, these actions contribute to the deterioration of an already precarious and overloaded electrical system, exacerbating the energy crisis in the country.
How does the Cuban government respond to the theft of electrical materials?
The Cuban government has vowed to severely punish those responsible for stealing electrical materials, categorizing these acts as serious crimes that can be classified as sabotage. However, these punitive measures do not address the structural causes behind the problem.
What is the current situation of the electrical system in Cuba?
The electrical system in Cuba is in a critical situation, with frequent blackouts and a significant deficit in electricity generation. The infrastructure is deteriorated, and the theft of electrical materials further exacerbates the country's ability to maintain a stable electricity supply.
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