More than 60 detained and 16 charged with drug trafficking during anti-drug operations in Holguín

With 69 people arrested and 16 charged with drug trafficking, the police operations conducted this week in the province of Holguín concluded during the third exercise of prevention and confrontation against drugs, according to information from the Ministry of the Interior (Minint).

Official media and social media profiles reported that authorities "acted" against a total of 369 individuals, including those arrested, charged, and "warned", during the latest anti-drug offensive in the eastern province.

According to reported by the Facebook page “Realidades desde Holguín”, linked to Minint, 69 citizens were detained by the police, 16 are accused of drug trafficking, and another 53 received an official warning due to their propensity for committing such acts; while preventive measures were applied to the remaining individuals.

13 inspections were conducted at pharmacies in various municipalities, in conjunction with the Public Health Directorate, where "irregularities" were detected and measures were imposed on 11 workers.

In the operations, 19 packages of marijuana, “the chemical,” and hashish were seized, along with numerous blister packs of medications (amitriptyline, trifluoperazine, diphenhydramine, etc.), some of which are regulated due to their effects similar to those of drugs.

The newspaper ¡Ahora! reported the arrests of several suppliers of prohibited substances, who were accused of drug trafficking.

In the Pueblo Nuevo neighborhood of the city of Holguín, the police seized a package containing hashish, pieces of chemical paper, a digital scale, and a total of 23,540 Cuban pesos from one of them. The report emphasized that the individual "shamelessly, concealed the drug in a baby’s diaper."

Authorities found additional packages containing those drugs in the homes of two citizens in the Miraflores and Armando Mestre neighborhoods in the municipality of Moa; meanwhile, in a public area, they seized five packages of marijuana from a woman.

According to the report, the police also "acted" against two citizens in the Sanfield neighborhood, in the provincial capital, who were in possession of both domestically produced and imported medications, including some controlled substances (amitriptyline, trifluoperazine, and diphenhydramine) as defined by the Resolution 25/2022 of the Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP). Meanwhile, in the municipality of Rafael Freyre, the National Revolutionary Police dismantled the sale of drugs from a private residence.

Now! lamented that those involved in the raids are mostly young people, who “profit at the expense of submitting their peers to a dark world,” and stated that society “demands the harshest punishment for this wrongdoing.”

"Narcotics, in all their forms, generate violence, corruption, the deterioration of physical and mental health, and the destruction of the family, being a scourge for society in all their expressions. Therefore, we will not allow unscrupulous individuals to unpunishedly involve our children and youth with the cruel and deadly vice of consumption," emphasized Lieutenant Colonel Yanexis Ávalo Rojas, the first officer of the Technical Investigative Police.

The newspaper also reported that inspections were carried out on livestock farms and dairies in the municipalities of Cueto, Rafael Freyre, and Banes, with the purpose of detecting marijuana crops, although the article does not specify whether any were found.

According to the profile "Realities from Holguín", at the air border, six Cuban passengers arriving from the United States had their electronic cigarettes confiscated, while in the municipality of Antilla, patrols were carried out along the coastal areas, where eight possible drug parcel seekers were identified, "who were given prophylaxis".

Both the Holguín newspaper and the social media profile highlighted that personnel from Customs and the Provincial Forensic Laboratory conducted a training exercise using canine techniques to detect harmful substances in travelers and luggage.

Yolanda Piñeiro Ramírez, Deputy Head of Customs in Holguín, stated to the newspaper that training for personnel has been intensified for drug detection at border entry points, as well as for specialized forces in radiology and canine techniques, “to achieve greater detection based on updates regarding the modus operandi, types of drugs and their effects, and the main countries of origin.”

The official revealed the discovery of cigarettes with positive THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), gummies containing narcotics, and regulated medications with effects similar to drugs, primarily tramadol.

During the third exercise to confront drug trafficking, educational talks were also held at schools in the municipalities of Holguín, Rafael Freyre, Mayarí, Banes, and Sagua de Tánamo, along with a community debate in Moa that included representatives from institutions and organizations of the government, the sources specified.

The regime has intensified its crackdown on drug trafficking in Cuba, a phenomenon that has worsened and reached unprecedented levels in recent years, corresponding with the deepening economic and social crisis in the country.

Justice authorities have intensified penalties for drug trafficking with sentences of up to 30 years, life imprisonment, or the death penalty. Furthermore, confiscations of property are being carried out against individuals who allow the sale or consumption of narcotics in their homes, known as "consumption houses."

Frequently Asked Questions about Anti-Drug Operations in Holguín, Cuba