More than 160 thefts have been recorded in 2025 at the warehouses where rationed basic goods are sold to the public in Cuba, according to official data presented this Tuesday during the sessions of the National Assembly.
The Minister of Domestic Trade, Betsy Díaz Velázquez, reported in the Commission of Services Attention of the Cuban Parliament that a total of 163 thefts in state stores occurred in the country and stated that it is “one of the issues that cannot be stopped.”
“There is a level of siege to the theft in warehouses,” he warned, without making the slightest reference to the persistent shortage of products in the Cuban warehouses, which remain empty almost all the time, as the government fails to ensure the supply of food and other essential items to the population.
Díaz revealed that the expectation was to reduce thefts in those establishments by 30%, although he did not explain the basis on which this goal was set. However, there were 34 more incidents of this nature compared to the same period last year, despite the fact that "there is confrontation, there is a higher level of demand from the administrators," he stated.
Official figures indicate that the provinces with the highest reported thefts are Holguín (33), Las Tunas (22), Santiago de Cuba (19), and Mayabeque (17), followed by Matanzas and Granma, each with 11 incidents. Except for Matanzas, the other five territories have seen a significant increase in thefts at these state-run businesses, according to data from MINCIN.
During her speech, the minister stated that as of May there had been 81 criminal incidents in the sector, but in the statistical table she presented, she totaled 163 robberies in warehouses, without explaining the discrepancy in the figures.
In Díaz's opinion, community actions and joint efforts with other organizations, as well as collaboration with administrative departments, have been insufficient to stop the criminal acts that are occurring amid the deep economic crisis in the country and a climate of growing distrust towards the State's control mechanisms.
Called for the preservation of resources. According to the official, when the regulated products for the basic basket of the month are received in the warehouses, "the resources must be safeguarded at the home of the nearest neighbor, at the nearest entity, in the safest place", an instruction that not only reveals the scarcity but also the shortcomings, deficiencies, and improvisation in the protective and security measures in the country.
"We cannot allow (the theft) to happen because replenishing resources is also complex when there is a subtraction," he stated.
Díaz reported that the MINCIN is developing an information system for real-time monitoring of goods, aimed at "strengthening internal control and reducing the risks of criminal activities."
Amid the sharp economic crisis, there has been a series of thefts and violent incidents in state-run stores and warehouses selling regulated products from the basic food basket. In these incidents, administrative officials responsible for ensuring the delivery of these items have often been involved.
In recent days, two managers of a warehouse in the San Miguel del Padrón municipality of Havana were reportedly caught in the act by police officers and officials from MINCIN while transferring to a vehicle sacks of rice and peas that they had illegally taken from the state-run storage.
Meanwhile, in the neighborhood of La Palma, in Arroyo Naranjo, a group of people almost lynched a young man who attacked the manager of a bodega with a knife in an attempted robbery.
Last year, in the town of Falla, in the municipality of Chambas, in Ciego de Ávila, the guardian of a grocery store was murdered by individuals who intended to rob the establishment.
Months later, the security guard of an agricultural market in San Miguel del Padrón, in the capital, was seriously injured after being stabbed by thieves who robbed the establishment.
In light of this situation, the regime has launched campaigns such as "Guardians for My Store", portrayed as "community" solutions to prevent theft and enhance surveillance.
Frequently asked questions about thefts in state-run warehouses in Cuba
How many thefts have been reported in state warehouses in Cuba in 2025?
So far in 2025, 163 thefts have been reported in state warehouses in Cuba, where rationed products from the basic basket are sold. This figure marks an increase compared to the same period last year, reflecting a rise in crime in the country.
Which provinces are most affected by warehouse thefts in Cuba?
The provinces most affected by warehouse thefts in Cuba are Holguín, Las Tunas, Santiago de Cuba, and Mayabeque. Holguín tops the list with 33 thefts, followed by Las Tunas with 22, and Santiago de Cuba with 19. These figures reflect the rising insecurity in these regions.
What measures is the Cuban government taking to address theft in the warehouses?
The Cuban government has launched the campaign "Guardians for My Grocery Store" to prevent thefts, although this measure has been criticized for relying on community surveillance. Additionally, the Ministry of Interior Commerce is developing an information system to monitor goods in stores in real-time, but these actions have not succeeded in stopping the increase in thefts.
How does the economic crisis in Cuba affect security in state-owned warehouses?
The deep economic crisis in Cuba has led to an increase in theft and insecurity in state-run warehouses. The scarcity of products and the lack of resources to ensure adequate security in these establishments worsen the situation, contributing to an atmosphere of distrust towards the state's control mechanisms.
Filed under: