In an attempt to send a strong message and punish those who challenge state control over economic goods, the Cuban regime held an "exemplary" trial against several workers of the Héctor Molina sugar mill in the municipality of San Nicolás de Bari, Mayabeque, for the theft of over 16 tons of sugar intended for the basic food basket.
The judicial process, held in the Municipal Court of Güines, concluded with sentences ranging from four to five years of imprisonment for the crimes of embezzlement and failure to uphold the duty to safeguard assets in economic entities.
The accused, according to the official account, allegedly deliberately neglected their responsibilities for control and organization in the central warehouse, thereby facilitating the disappearance of the product, with the complicity of other workers at the facility.
The prosecution presented the company's director, Elvis González Vasallo, as a key witness, who stated that the accused were part of a "theft ring" dismantled within the facilities, and that the criminal intent of those involved in the theft of bulk raw sugar could be proven.
The missing shipment, originating from the province of Cienfuegos and intended to supply the regulated basic basket, has directly affected more than 16,000 consumers.
The court, in addition to prison sentences, imposed on the convicted individuals the obligation to compensate for the economic damages inflicted on the state-owned company.
Exemplary punishment for a collapsing economy
Beyond the official narrative of "transparency and legality," the case reveals a much more alarming and systemic reality: the moral and functional collapse of the Cuban state economic apparatus, and a population driven to crime out of sheer necessity.
When what is scarce is not only sugar but also dignity, ethics, and food on the table, "thefts" like this are merely symptoms of a system that nurtures corruption as the only means of survival.
The trial has been portrayed by state media as a warning, but it also seems like a staged performance to conceal the true massive and institutionalized theft that the Cuban people experience every day, manifested in the form of symbolic wages, absurd prices, endless rationing, and empty promises.
Workers are convicted for failing to fulfill their duties in sugar warehouses, while the top leadership of the country remains shielded from any responsibility for the productive and moral disaster that plagues the nation.
Steal or die
The case in Mayabeque is not unique. Last July, another similar scandal shook the province of Artemisa, when a group of 12 people, including employees of the Harlem agro-industrial complex in Bahía Honda, stole two tons of sugar with the complicity of guards who were bribed with 23,000 pesos in a single night.
There, the Prosecutor's Office sought sentences of up to 18 years in prison, in a process that once again highlighted the extent of corruption within state economic structures.
What lies behind the stolen sugar?
With these cases, the State seeks to reaffirm its authority in key sectors such as the sugar industry, a historically significant pillar of the national economy, which is currently in crisis.
The theft of sugar is no longer just a crime; it is a painful metaphor for a country where desperation is measured in grams and the future is sold by the kilogram.
While "exemplary" trials are taking place, no real solutions are being provided for structural misery, nor is there any guarantee that the thousands of families affected by these shortages will receive any compensation.
The question that many are asking quietly, but which is increasingly resonating loudly in neighborhoods, central areas, churches, and endless lines, is clear: Who judges the system that turned an entire population into suspects?
The prisons in Cuba will continue to fill up with scapegoats, but sugar—and hope—will still be missing from the tables. Because what has been stolen for a long time is not just the sugar. It is justice.
Frequently Asked Questions about Sugar Theft and Exemplary Trials in Cuba
What happened in the trial for the sugar theft in Mayabeque?
In the Héctor Molina sugar mill in Mayabeque, several workers were sentenced to between four and five years in prison for the theft of over 16 tons of sugar intended for the basic food basket. The trial was presented as a deterrent by the Cuban regime, aiming to dissuade others from committing similar offenses.
What is the impact of these thefts on the Cuban population?
The theft of sugar in Mayabeque directly affected more than 16,000 consumers who relied on this product for their basic necessities. These thefts reflect a deeper crisis in Cuba, where the scarcity of basic goods is common and the population is driven to crime out of necessity.
What are exemplary trials and what is their purpose in Cuba?
Exemplary trials in Cuba are public judicial processes aimed at deterring the commission of crimes through the severe punishment of those guilty. Their goal is to demonstrate control over the population and reinforce the authority of the regime, often overlooking the underlying causes of crimes such as corruption and poor economic management.
What does the case of the sugar mill reveal about the Cuban economic system?
The case of the sugar mill in Mayabeque exposes the corruption and deterioration of the Cuban state economic system. The massive theft of sugar reflects a system where a lack of ethics and necessity drive crime, while the high leadership remains unpunished and the people suffer the consequences of an ineffective regime.
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