Cuban customs authorities reported a rise in drug entry into the country by air, through "blind mules," individuals who sell space in their luggage to carry packages to Cuba and, unknowingly, have transported narcotics in them.
In statements to the state media, Isnavis Chacón, head of the Customs of the "José Martí" International Airport in Havana, addressed the issue and referred to these individuals who transport packages to Cuba for a fee as "blind mules," while also warning that travelers are solely responsible for the items they carry.
"In recent times, there has been an increase in people selling their pounds at their destination of origin and unknowingly bringing drugs with them. Many of the people who are trafficking drugs today are blind mules who receive payment for their actions. Blind mules are those individuals who generally travel through agencies, the agencies pay them for what they are bringing, package their luggage for them, and they do not know what they are carrying," he warned.
In this regard, he warned that, in adherence to customs regulations, the passenger is fully responsible for the baggage they carry and is therefore accountable. He also emphasized that they had "internationally standardized techniques" to detect the substances being brought in.
According to the official, narcotics have been detected in coffee packages, more frequently; also in food containers, seasonings, in cold cuts, among others.
Inside electronic cigarettes and sealed medicine bottles authorities have admitted to finding drugs.
According to reports, there have even been documented cases of elderly individuals carrying packages delivered from other countries "by friends or close family members," where closed "factory-sealed" products contain drugs.
"It is very sad that the trip you planned for so long to reunite with your loved ones ends with a bitter experience behind bars,” threatened the Cuban official in a context where the regime has intensified its rhetoric against drug trafficking with the implementation of exemplary trials and raids in neighborhoods across several cities."
Judicial authorities have warned that penalties for drug trafficking can reach up to 30 years in prison, life imprisonment, or even the death penalty in aggravated cases.
In recent weeks, Cuban authorities have intensified anti-drug operations in various provinces, highlighting both the tightening of control policies and the growing issue of drug trafficking on the island.
However, this approach has been criticized by some sectors who believe it is a delayed reaction to a problem that has worsened over time. The proliferation of drugs in Cuba is due to multiple social and economic factors that have not been effectively addressed by the authorities.
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