Related videos:
Forces from the Ministry of the Interior (Minint) returned the stolen goods this Thursday to the El Cliente warehouse, located near the provincial pediatric hospital of Matanzas.
The loot included seven sacks of rice and a pick weighing 40 kilograms (kg), 49 kg of sugar, 1.2 kg of powdered milk, 10 pounds of salt, five bars of bath soap and the same amount of laundry soap, a table fan, an electric coffee maker, and a music speaker.
The investigation led to the identification and arrest of the perpetrators, who confessed to the crime, according to a statement published on the official Facebook page of the newspaper Girón.
However, the case opened a broader debate: the lack of security in these units.
According to the director of municipal commerce, out of the 139 bodegas in the area, 27 do not have guards, even though the positions have been established. The official himself acknowledged that low wages are one of the reasons for the shortage.
The manager of the warehouse was identified as responsible for ensuring the protection of the products, despite not having security personnel.
Regarding this, Julio Miguel Jordán Padrón, director of the municipal commerce company, stated that he will conduct an administrative analysis "for not protecting the products as they should be" and since it is one of the warehouses that does not have a custodian, which is the responsibility of the Business Unit.
"In the event that the unit does not have a custodian, the administrator must find a way to further protect the products. These measures are necessary because it is currently very difficult to replenish what has been stolen due to the situation the country is going through," he emphasized.
On social media, citizens questioned the transfer of responsibility to workers. “Pay more and you’ll see how custodians appear,” complained a user, while others reported that there is an intention to force managers to take on night shifts without additional compensation.
According to the source, in 2023, more than 50 robberies at warehouses were reported in the municipality of Matanzas. The number dropped to one in 2024, but so far in 2025, there have already been three.
The persistence of the problem, in a context of scarcity and power outages, fuels the public perception of insecurity and institutional neglect.
In July, the Minister of Domestic Trade, Betsy Díaz Velázquez, revealed in the Services Oversight Commission of the Cuban parliament that during the first half of 2025, there were 163 thefts in the country's state-owned warehouses, and stated that it is "one of the problems that cannot be stopped."
“There is a level of siege concerning 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 goods to the population.
At the beginning of August, unknown individuals stole 14 sacks of rice from a warehouse located at the corner of Jesús del Sol and Beneficencia, in the municipality of Guantánamo, in the early hours of Monday.
Police investigations, with the support of the community, led to the identification of at least three of the alleged perpetrators, the recovery of part of the stolen rice, and the seizure of cash obtained from its sale to receivers.
One of the buyers involved voluntarily returned a bag of rice upon learning of the product's illegal origin, according to the official report.
A month ago, two administrators of a warehouse in San Miguel del Padrón were reportedly caught in the act while moving bags of rice and peas that they were allegedly illegally taking from the state-run stores.
The authorities reportedly discovered within the warehouse 15 bags of peas and 10 of rice that, according to the report, were already set aside for extraction. Additionally, when searching the homes of the administrators, they allegedly found another 14 bags of rice.
In early June, the official press in Sancti Spíritus reported on the dismantling by Minint forces of a network dedicated to the theft and illegal resale of liquefied gas canisters between January and May of this year.
By the way, the Attorney General's Office confirmed at that time that it was investigating criminal processes in Havana and Sancti Spíritus regarding the theft of essential goods for the population, in a context of increasing social discontent due to the rise of corruption at all levels, lack of oversight, the rising cost of basic products, and impunity in strategic sectors.
Regarding this, it was reported that, in the municipality of Habana del Este, 197 bags of powdered milk were stolen from a state warehouse. The lot was intended for regulated distribution to children under two years of age, one of the most vulnerable sectors amidst the current crisis.
The Cuban population has expressed its growing concern about the increase in crime in various areas of the country, particularly violent robberies, assaults, and thefts in broad daylight.
This type of incident intensifies the debate about citizen security in Cuba, where many citizens express feeling increasingly vulnerable in the face of the impunity of criminals.
Frequently Asked Questions about Thefts in Warehouses in Cuba
What are the main causes of theft in warehouses in Cuba?
The thefts in Cuba's bodegas are primarily due to a lack of security and a shortage of basic products. Authorities have acknowledged that many bodegas do not have guards because of low wages, which facilitates these thefts. Furthermore, the economic crisis has heightened the desperation of the population, leading some to commit these crimes.
What measures are the authorities taking to prevent thefts in warehouses?
Authorities have urged the community to collaborate in the protection of storage facilities, suggesting that neighbors and local organizations organize themselves to safeguard the products. Additionally, community integration models have been proposed, such as in Isla de la Juventud, where no thefts have been reported. However, the lack of resources to replace what has been stolen and the scarcity of products complicate the implementation of effective measures.
What impact do these robberies have on the Cuban population?
Thefts in warehouses severely impact the Cuban population, which is already facing a chronic shortage of basic goods. The loss of rationed food that cannot be replenished exacerbates food insecurity and increases frustration and social discontent. Furthermore, the perception of insecurity and the lack of trust in the state distribution system are reinforced with each incident.
What do the statistics say about robberies in warehouses in Cuba in 2025?
So far in 2025, more than 160 thefts have been reported in Cuba's state warehouses. The most affected provinces include Holguín, Las Tunas, and Santiago de Cuba. This increase in thefts reflects the worsening economic situation and the lack of effective measures to secure the warehouses.
Filed under: