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The authorities of the Cuban regime arrested two citizens in the city of Matanzas on charges of “illegal economic activity” after seizing 625 liters of gasoline that they were transporting in a private car.
The arrest, which took place on the Versailles bridge, was reported by the official Facebook page Con todos la Victoria, which celebrated the action as part of the state campaign against "illegal activities and social indiscipline."
According to the post, the detainees are Yasimel Pérez Falcón, a self-employed individual with a criminal record for burglary, theft, and slaughtering of large livestock; and Pedro Roberto Cañete Sánchez, a citizen with no previous record who is currently unemployed.
Both remain in custody and, according to the official statement, "will answer before the law."
The publication was accompanied by the official slogan "Against crime, illegalities, and social indiscipline, zero tolerance!" in a clearly propagandistic tone that aims to reinforce the regime's hardline discourse in response to any attempts at economic survival outside of its restrictions.
A case that reveals the structural crisis of the system
Far from generating unanimous support, the news sparked a wave of comments on social media, many of which were critical of the reality that drives Cubans to engage in these kinds of activities to survive.
The reactions highlight the contradictions of a country where obtaining gasoline legally is nearly impossible for most people, and where resellers fill a void that the state itself does not cover.
“They do not produce gasoline. That came from a gas station”, reported a user, referring to the source of the fuel, which most likely originates from circuits of internal corruption in state facilities.
"If they don't know how they obtained the gasoline, they won't do anything. Okay?", pointed out another internet user, highlighting the lack of thorough investigation to identify the real culprits within the government apparatus.
The lack of transparency in fuel distribution is an open secret on the island. Although the government insists that gasoline is available through a reservation app called Ticket, the reality is that it is barely distributed, is limited, and often does not even arrive.
"Where can I buy all that I need? Because as far as I know, it's through the Ticket app and they sell it in limited quantities," questioned a user with evident frustration.
Crime or survival?
Many Cubans wonder whether these cases should truly be considered crimes or if, on the contrary, they are inevitable consequences of the economic chaos the country is experiencing.
“Lies and more lies. Let the poor kids who are trying to survive be. If you could, you would do the same,” wrote a commentator, summarizing the sentiment of those who do not see criminals, but rather citizens trapped in misery.
Other comments were more sarcastic, highlighting the hypocrisy of the official discourse. "Behind the ants, and the elephants finishing it off," expressed a user, alluding to the fact that while ordinary citizens are being pursued, the real corrupt individuals within the regime remain unpunished.
In that same vein, another internet user was straightforward: “What they need to do is dig deeper to find out where it comes from. They must be recipients, but as part of the corruption. That fuel comes from somewhere.”
The Political Use of Punishment
For some users, the publication of this case on social media is part of a campaign of public shaming and manipulation, typical of the government.
“If you look at it from another angle, it's not a crime, just negligence for transporting fuel without protection. I don't think that fuel is stolen. That's payment in garages in Havana, where it's only available,” explained an internet user, recalling that many families depend on that resold fuel to operate generators and preserve food.
For many, what this case highlights, beyond the official narrative, is the collapse of the centralized distribution model imposed by the regime.
While two citizens are being blamed for hoarding gasoline, thousands of Cubans do not have regular access to fuel, even to maintain medical equipment, refrigerate food, or transport goods.
"Thanks to resellers, things get sorted out. Nothing exists without resale, not even daily bread," confessed a commentator.
Another user warned, "This country is so disgusting that if you could do the same, you would do it too."
Faced with a broken economy, symbolic wages, chronic shortages, and an increasingly impoverished population, what the regime calls “illicit economic activity” is nothing more than the desperate reflection of a citizenry trying to survive amid the inefficiency and absolute control of the State.
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