Dozens of Cubans are reporting that their imported vehicles have been held for months in ports like Mariel and at Transimport facilities, without any official explanation, and are being exposed to deterioration from salt, rain, and sun.
The testimonies gathered by CiberCuba describe a pattern of corruption, neglect, and impunity that affects hundreds of families both inside and outside the island.
"Many cars have been left exposed to the elements for months; when the owners come to pick them up, they will be rusty," says one of those affected, who has been waiting for more than three months.
Others agree that "the port workers intentionally hold onto the cars until someone pays on the side; only then do they release them."
Most comments indicate that they received requests ranging from $500 to $2,000 to "expedite" the delivery.
"If you don't pay, there's no car. That's how it works. You have to send extra money for them to move you up," explains another Cuban who has had his vehicle impounded since August.
The consequences of the delay are devastating. When picking up the vehicles, they find them "without batteries, without tires, with swapped parts, missing components, or dents."
Others report fuel thefts and vandalism in the port areas. “I was at the port and saw all the cars. It’s a crime to see them there without being able to deliver them,” a witness recounted.
Alongside corruption, deterioration and a lack of transparency are also present. “They are quick to charge for the shipment; delivering it is a problem,” laments one affected individual.
In almost all cases, the owners claim that the authorities do not respond to calls or provide explanations, and that the institutions blame each other.
The fear of confiscations is growing. “The government is going to keep many of those cars and give them to leaders,” worries another whistleblower.
Meanwhile, dozens of cars remain stranded, rusted, and forgotten in Cuban ports, transformed into a symbol of a bureaucratic and corrupt system that devours the hopes of those who dreamed of recovering their investments.
Filed under: