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A woman —apparently a foreigner— has contacted CiberCuba to report an unusual and concerning technique of theft experienced by her husband and a group of friends shortly after they arrived in Havana via José Martí International Airport.
According to what she recounted in her message to our editorial team, last Saturday her husband arrived in the Cuban capital along with other companions. Upon exiting the terminal, a supposed "taxi runner" offered them a cheaper ride than the official airport service: 15 dollars instead of the usual 25.
Attracted by the savings, they accepted the offer. When loading the luggage, they noticed that the trunk of the vehicle had limited space, but they didn’t find it alarming and placed their three large suitcases there. They decided to keep the backpack with personal items —including money and passports— in the seat with them.
However, the driver arrogantly insisted that all the luggage must go in the trunk. The situation became tense until the driver finally relented and they departed for the accommodation.
The surprise
Upon their arrival at the accommodation, they discovered that one of their suitcases had been tampered with. Clothes, sandals, cigarettes, and other personal items were missing. The unusual part came later: the host mentioned that it wasn't the first time she had heard that story, and that in November, a Spanish tourist had told her the same thing.
Apparently, the vehicle had a double floor in the trunk, and a person hidden inside had stolen the belongings during the trip. The suitcase returned to its owner, but with some of the contents missing.
No complaint, but with a warning
Due to the complexity of the process for filing a formal complaint in Cuba, the family decided not to approach the authorities, but they did want to publicly warn other tourists who might be tempted by informal offers at the airport exit.
“I would like to alert other tourists traveling to Havana with this”, the woman concluded.
Such incidents not only impact tourism in Cuba but also reflect the increasing insecurity and lack of regulation in a context where economic necessity fosters increasingly sophisticated criminal situations.
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