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Two Cuban citizens were detained at the Mexico City International Airport while carrying in their backpacks more than two million Mexican pesos in cash, without being able to justify its origin.
According to the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC), members of the Federal Protection intercepted the Cubans at Terminal 2 of the international airport in the Mexican capital after their behavior drew the attention of the officers, reported the newspaper Excélsior.
After a brief interview, both admitted to carrying large sums of cash, distributed in two backpacks, one carried by a woman and the other by a man.
In total, they were carrying over 89 thousand euros, 332 thousand Mexican pesos, and 15 thousand Canadian dollars, which exceeds two million Mexican pesos (about 115 thousand U.S. dollars). The report from the Mexican press does not identify the detainees nor specifies the destination they were headed to with the large sum.
Cubans voluntarily agreed to have their belongings searched and were subsequently made available to the Attorney General's Office (FGR), the authority responsible for the investigation, to determine whether the money has a legal origin or if it could be related to illicit activities.
This incident occurs just a day after a Cuban identified as Maels “N” was arrested in Tapachula, Chiapas, for alleged drug dealing.
In that city in southern Mexico, a migration hotspot, local police seized 13 doses of crystal during an operation in which a Mexican citizen was also arrested.
The case of Tapachula adds to other instances that have fueled stigmas about Cuban migrants. In 2024, several nationals from the island were arrested during drug raids in Hidalgo and Pachuca, where hundreds of drug doses were found, and arrests were made in nightclubs and marginalized neighborhoods.
Frequently Asked Questions about the case of Cubans detained with cash at the airport in CDMX
Why were the Cubans detained at Mexico City's airport?
The Cubans were detained for transporting more than two million Mexican pesos in cash without being able to justify its origin. The amount of money they had in their backpacks was suspicious and attracted the attention of the Federal Protection officers, who handed them over to the Attorney General's Office to investigate the source of the money.
What amount of money were the Cubans detained in Mexico transporting?
In total, the Cubans were carrying more than 89,000 euros, 332,000 Mexican pesos, and 15,000 Canadian dollars. This sum exceeds two million Mexican pesos, equivalent to about 115,000 US dollars, spread across two backpacks.
What is the relation between this case and other recent incidents involving Cubans in Mexico?
This case adds to a series of incidents involving Cubans in Mexico, generating stigma against migrants from the island. Recently, a Cuban was arrested for drug dealing in Tapachula, Chiapas, and others have been detained in operations related to drugs and extortion, fueling prejudices against the Cuban community in the country.
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