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A joint operation by the Ministry of the Interior (MININT) and the Provincial Inspection Group in Ciego de Ávila detected new violations in the sale of rice on the streets José María Agramonte and Joaquín de Agüero, according to the local broadcaster Surco.
The authorities imposed fines of 40,000 Cuban pesos and ordered the forced sale of the product to the population, after identifying irregularities in both the price and the weight of the grain offered. This incident was also reported by the provincial newspaper Invasor, which confirmed the imposition of administrative sanctions and the sale at regulated prices.
The images released show bags of rice displayed in public along with an improvised sign indicating the price, a scene that reflects the precarious conditions under which basic food items are sold in the area.
The official publications sparked a wave of comments on social media, where many users agreed that inspections should be conducted regularly and not through isolated operations.
"This needs to be done daily, not just during operations," wrote one person, while another urged "to do it at all locations, because the prices and scams happen every day." There were also those who reported that sellers continue with the same practices "the next day" and that some inspectors "give advance notice" to those involved.
Others called for harsher penalties, such as seizures and legal proceedings, in response to what they describe as "abuse against the people." Among the criticisms, some internet users questioned the lack of state supply: "The government has nothing to sell, and the inspectors only fine those who are trying to survive," one user commented.
This new operation comes just a few days after another inspection in the same area, where the use of double-bottomed cups to defraud rice buyers was uncovered, as reported by local television and several national media outlets.
On that occasion, the authorities imposed fines and ordered the forced sale of 400 pounds of rice at the official price of 155 pesos per pound, after discovering manipulated containers that reduced the actual contents of the product. The images showed ice cream containers modified with a false bottom, a practice denounced by neighbors as "a scam against the people."
Although the regulatory bodies claim to be addressing violations related to pricing and weighing, the people of Avila express skepticism about the effectiveness of these measures. Numerous comments indicate that the operations “do not address the root problem” and that after the inspectors leave, “everything goes back to being the same or worse.”
Complaints also extend to other municipalities such as Morón, Ceballos, and Ciro Redondo, where consumers are reporting rice prices ranging from 220 to 270 pesos per pound, well above the regulated value.
Among the most repeated opinions, citizens are calling for systematic controls, transparency in the actions of inspectors, and a steady supply of basic products in state markets, to prevent speculation and hoarding.
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