Profiles affiliated with MININT boast about anti-drug operations while the regime seeks to project control

In recent days, social media profiles directly or indirectly linked to the Ministry of the Interior (MININT) have intensified the dissemination of alleged operations against drug trafficking and the sale of drugs in various provinces of Cuba, appearing to be a coordinated campaign of official propaganda to demonstrate control and effectiveness in the face of a problem that has worsened throughout the country.

Pages like Con Todos La Victoria, Verdades a Través del Móvil, Héroes de Azul, and Guantánamo and its Truth—all linked to the narrative of the repressive apparatus—publish daily reports of arrests, seizures, and "strikes" against drug trafficking, accompanied by triumphalist language, political slogans, and calls for citizen denunciation.

In Matanzas, for instance, the profile Con Todos La Victoria reported on the arrest of a 29-year-old man at the Bacunayagua bridge for allegedly carrying pieces of paper soaked in synthetic cannabinoids. The post, laden with sarcasm and mockery towards the arrested individual, presents it as a "blow" to drug trafficking, without providing independent evidence or information about due process.

In Camagüey, Verdades a Través del Móvil reported the arrest of four individuals in broad daylight, as well as the detainment of a couple allegedly involved in selling "chemicals." In both cases, the publications highlight the seizure of money and substances, but they lack verifiable data, do not clearly identify the accused, and do not provide assurances about the transparency of the investigations.

In Guantánamo, another pro-government figure celebrated the arrest of an individual nicknamed "El Míster," following an anonymous tip, presenting him as "caught and well caught," reinforcing a narrative of exemplary punishment more akin to public shaming than to objective information.

More propaganda than solutions

Although the regime claims to be engaged in a "frontline battle" against drugs, the growing use of substances like the so-called "chemical" highlights a structural issue that authorities have failed to contain. The economic crisis, lack of opportunities, social collapse, and absence of real prevention policies have created a breeding ground that cannot be resolved with isolated operations or campaigns on Facebook.

Moreover, the emphasis on showcasing arrests contrasts with the lack of transparency: sentences, larger networks, and institutional responsibilities are not reported. It is also not explained how these substances circulate so easily in a country where the state strictly controls borders, ports, and commerce.

Meanwhile, the profiles used by MININT show off operations, glorify repressive forces, and shift responsibility onto citizens, appealing to denunciations and fear, while failing to acknowledge the failure of state policies that have led to unprecedented social deterioration.

More than a comprehensive strategy against drugs, what is observed is a communication offensive by the regime, aimed at reinforcing its image of control at a time when insecurity, substance use, and despair are rising in the streets of Cuba.