A social media user reported an alleged scam involving H. Upmann cigarette cartons at the popular market known as La Cuevita, located in the Havana municipality of San Miguel del Padrón.
"Family, this happened today at La Cuevita. Touching on the cigar sellers who are scamming people," wrote Raiko Betancourt in a Facebook post, accompanied by a video in which he shows at least five packages of allegedly counterfeit cigarettes. Instead of cigarettes, the containers contained sawdust wrapped in paper.
"Look at what kind of scam this is... they have scammed this man... this is in La Cuevita... sawdust is what was inside the box... the lack of respect we are experiencing here as Cubans," comments the whistleblower indignantly while recording the contents of the boxes.
Another internet user, Giovanys Fernández Abreu, also mentioned similar scams in the same area: “The scammers from La Cuevita, in San Miguel del Padrón, with the boxes of soap,” he wrote on his Facebook profile.
This is not the first time that such incidents have been reported in La Cuevita, an informal trading spot frequented by residents of Havana. In March 2023, a woman reported that she bought what she thought was oil, but it turned out to be water mixed with vinegar. And in December 2024, an inspector attacked a vendor with a bayonet in the middle of the market.
Despite an expensive renovation in 2019, which according to official figures cost more than two million pesos —600 thousand contributed by the self-employed—, La Cuevita continues to receive complaints regarding disorder, filth, and repeated scams.
More recently, in May 2025, a young Cuban documented her visit to the place on TikTok. “The streets are broken, filled with trash, there are no visible trash bins, and even less awareness of maintaining good hygiene,” she stated. She also questioned the sale of medications at the site: “Since there are no medications in pharmacies and these places are full of medications… I don’t know if they ever clean this up because it really looks all depressing.”
Authorities have carried out operations in previous attempts to contain the situation, such as the one in November 2022, which resulted in the detention of more than 50 resellers. However, no visible structural changes have occurred. La Cuevita continues to be, for many Cubans, a symbol of shortages, the underground economy, and impunity.
Frequently asked questions about scams and the chaos in La Cuevita, Havana
What types of scams have been reported in La Cuevita?
In La Cuevita, a popular market in Havana, several frauds have been reported, such as the sale of H. Upmann cigar boxes filled with sawdust instead of cigarettes. There have also been cases of selling fake or adulterated products, such as oil that turned out to be water with vinegar.
Why is La Cuevita known for its chaos and informality?
La Cuevita is known for its disorder and informality due to its reputation as a hub for illegal trade and the black market in Havana. Despite police operations and costly renovations, it remains a symbol of the underground economy and lack of state control, where scams and the sale of scarce products are common.
What measures have the authorities taken to control the situation in La Cuevita?
The authorities have conducted police operations, such as one in November 2022 that resulted in the arrest of more than 50 resellers. However, these measures have not achieved lasting structural changes, and La Cuevita remains a place of chaos and illegal trade.
How does the situation in La Cuevita affect Cuban citizens?
The situation in La Cuevita reflects the desperation and lack of options for Cuban citizens, who are forced to turn to informal markets due to shortages in state stores. This exposes them to scams and low-quality products, in addition to contributing to an environment of insecurity and social disorder.
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