A worker accused of stealing cables at the Supertanker Base in Matanzas has been arrested

A young man identified as Orlando M. G. was arrested after being caught while stealing 36 meters of cable from the Matanzas Super Tanker Base, according to a source linked to the Ministry of the Interior (Minint).

A brief note published by the official profile “Con Todos La Victoria” on Facebook revealed the theft that M. G. is accused of, who was allegedly caught in the act by employees of that entity.

According to the page, the man has a criminal record for assault and, following the recent incident, will face justice for the crime of burglary.

The report did not specify whether the detained individual was an employee of the entity and had access to the site, or if he entered by violating the security rules that must be enforced at the largest fuel storage facility in Cuba. A person claiming to know him stated in comments that M. G. is an employee.

The circumstances and the date of the theft have also not been disclosed.

Currently, at the Matanzas Supertanker Base, the installation of the dome for fuel tank 49-1 is taking place, the first of four being constructed at the facility, where in August 2022, a massive fire destroyed four oil storage tanks, claimed the lives of 17 people, and left over 120 injured, in what is considered the largest disaster in Cuba's recent history.

The information about the recent robbery at the base sparked a heated controversy among users of the social network, many of whom are neighbors and acquaintances of M. G., who claimed that he is not a criminal, as stated in the post.

While some tried to justify the act by arguing the material hardships faced by the Cuban population due to the country's severe economic crisis, others defended the principles of honesty and integrity in any situation, claiming that theft is not a solution to difficulties.

Cuban society is experiencing an unprecedented wave of crime, characterized by an increase in thefts, armed assaults, murders, and drug trafficking, as the economic recession deepens and, consequently, inflation rises, essential product shortages escalate, and the quality of basic services deteriorates.

In recent days, the dismantling of a gang involved in motorcycle theft in Santiago de Cuba has made headlines; the arrest of two men who stole televisions from a primary school in Sancti Spíritus, and the assault by an armed group of more than 10 men—including a fugitive from justice—on an agricultural production cooperative in Cacocum, Holguín, where they stole nearly 60 fishing nets and kidnapped several workers.

These recent events are a clear sign of the increasing insecurity in the country and the regime's inability to ensure a minimum level of social stability amid the crisis, while it insists on its official discourse of order and tranquility.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cable Theft at the Supertankers Base in Matanzas