In a propaganda event, officials from the Ministry of the Interior in Las Tunas returned stolen goods to their rightful owners as part of the efforts against crime in the province.
According to the news report from the channel Visión Tunera, the event was attended by leaders of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) and was used as a platform to highlight the “achievements” in the fight against crime, amid a growing perception of public insecurity.
During the event, a motorcycle and several mobile phones were handed over, items recovered by the National Police. The individuals who received their belongings publicly expressed their gratitude.
A new face of the Party in Las Tunas
The event also marked the public appearance of Osbel Lorenzo Rodríguez as the new secretary of the Communist Party in Las Tunas, a position he assumed less than a week ago following the dismissal -less than a week ago- of Walter Simón Noris.
Before his appointment, Lorenzo served as the secretary of the PCC in Trinidad, Sancti Spíritus, and in the Isle of Youth, areas "where he also held key party positions," according to the state media.
Justice or spectacle?
These types of public acts, in which stolen goods are returned in a ceremonial atmosphere, are not new in Cuba. However, they are always questioned by citizens and activists due to their propagandistic nature, contrasted with the structural inability of the State to prevent crime, and with the impunity in many cases where the stolen items are not recovered nor the perpetrators apprehended.
In fact, social media and independent outlets constantly report on thefts, assaults, and violent incidents, particularly in contexts of economic crisis and widespread scarcity, where many see crime as a means of survival.
Just in Las Tunas, a Cuban was sentenced to 10 years of imprisonment for trying to steal computers from the Department of Economics at the Ernesto Guevara hospital.
According to the official Periódico 26, the oral trial took place in the First Chamber of Criminal Law of the Provincial People's Court as part of case number 1 of 2025, concerning the crime of burglary.
It was also reported that telecommunications infrastructure in Las Tunas recorded 19 acts of vandalism during 2024, according to data from the Cuban Telecommunications Company S.A. (ETECSA), which is affiliated with the PCC and is the only one of its kind on the Island. This figure reflects some improvement compared to 2023, when 42 incidents were reported.
A nurse and his accomplice are caught in Pinar del Río trafficking in stolen medical supplies
During the last week of March, authorities detained Jonail Piña Plasencia, a nurse from the Emergency Service of Abel Santamaría Cuadrado Hospital in Pinar del Río, after being caught leaving his workplace with stolen medications and medical supplies.
Alongside him, Mayisney Hidalgo Barrios was also arrested, identified as an accomplice of Piña Plascencia, and a resident of Reparto Cuba Libre, who was engaged in the illegal sale of these materials on the black market.
Frequently Asked Questions about Crime and Political Acts in Cuba
What happened at the political event in Las Tunas related to the theft of goods?
In Las Tunas, a political event was organized to return stolen goods to their owners, as part of a campaign by the Ministry of the Interior. The event served as a propaganda platform for authorities from the Communist Party of Cuba to highlight their efforts in the fight against crime. During the event, a motorcycle and several cell phones recovered by the police were returned.
Who is the new secretary of the Communist Party in Las Tunas?
Osbel Lorenzo Rodríguez is the new secretary of the Communist Party in Las Tunas, following the dismissal of Walter Simón Noris. Lorenzo Rodríguez has held various positions within the PCC, including roles in Trinidad, Sancti Spíritus, and Isla de la Juventud. His appointment is part of a series of changes in the political leadership of the province.
What criticisms have been made regarding the return of stolen goods in Cuba?
The acts of returning stolen goods in Cuba have been criticized for their propagandistic nature and for not addressing the structural causes of crime. Activists and citizens question the effectiveness of these ceremonies, noting that they do not resolve the insecurity or the prevailing impunity in the country, especially in contexts of economic crisis.
What is the situation of crime in Las Tunas according to recent data?
In Las Tunas, more than 300 crimes were reported in a week, primarily affecting livestock and state entities. Although stricter measures have been promised, the effectiveness of these actions is questioned due to the ongoing increase in crime in the province.
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