Fifteen detainees arrested for illegal mining in Las Tunas have been out of contact for more than a month and have not been charged

Fifteen individuals arrested in the municipality of Jobabo, Las Tunas, for illegal mining have been disconnected from communication for over a month and 20 days and have not been informed of any charges.

According to the complaint from family members reported by the profile La Tijera, illegal miners were arrested on July 31, 2025, in the gold mine located in the municipality of Jobabo.

From there, they were transferred to "Instruction in Las Tunas and, on August 11, taken to Típico Nuevo, where they remain isolated and without any official explanation regarding the charges against them," the information specifies.

One of the detainees is Dannier Alejandro Ballagas Tejedas, 23 years old, a resident of Camagüey; and another is Eddys Escriba Figueredo, 49 years old, a resident of Jobabo.

“At least three of them have wives who have just given birth, and they haven’t even been allowed to register their children,” the publication reports.

La Tijera reports on the statements made by Ballagas Tejedas' wife, who is six months pregnant.

"We are without information, not knowing what is going to happen. It is very difficult to go back and forth to seek news. We need what is happening to be known," he said.

Additionally, relatives of those detained assert that "the brother of the Police Chief of Jobabo, known as Vivi, operates with impunity in the mines, while the workers remain imprisoned."

In a comment on the post, commenting from the profile of Ballagas Tejedas, who identifies as his wife, she stated that the detainees “were working normally in the mines in Jobabo, trying to improve a little bit more.”

"It's true, that's illegal, but they took them, and we have no guidance on what they'll do with them, what will happen. You see, they weren't caught with anything like dirt or anything, just at the location, but not at the exact spot. What's most frustrating is that it's been 1 month and 20 days already, and they haven't provided any information. And the most unfortunate thing is that you see worse things happening, and they don't do anything," the woman complained.

She also stated that she lives in Camagüey, is pregnant, and "I can't go here or there; I've been without seeing him for 1 month and 20 days, this is desperate. That's why I support all the mothers and family members of theirs, and I hope they inform us soon about what is going to be done because this is unbearable."

Arrests for illegal mining in Jobabo are common. In August, a farmer was caught on his farm in the El 45 neighborhood, in Jobabo, while operating a "tromber", an artisanal mill used to extract gold from earth from illegal mining activities.

The incident was reported by the official profile Claridad Tunera, which stated that the individual was in the midst of grinding when authorities intervened.

The publication noted that the processed land had arrived at the farm "as if by magic," alluding to its illicit origin.

The operation was part of the actions taken in Las Tunas against illegal mining, a practice that causes severe environmental damage and has garnered increasing attention from local authorities in recent months.

In March, Cuban authorities also arrested eight people in Jobabo for allegedly engaging in the illegal extraction and trafficking of gold dust.

The Provincial Government of the People's Power of Las Tunas reported on Facebook that the operation was carried out by investigative forces and internal security, following previous complaints from the population and controls conducted by government and Party authorities.

Frequently Asked Questions about the Detention of Illegal Miners in Las Tunas