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Two individuals were arrested in Havana on charges of illegally acting as "ticket agents," a practice that has become increasingly visible amidst the transportation crisis facing the Cuban capital.
According to a report on social media by the Municipal Assembly of the People's Power in Centro Habana, both citizens were captured on the night of Tuesday, March 10, in El Curita Park by the Transit Chief, Alain Blanch Aldana. The authorities accuse them of organizing passengers for private “boteo” services, manipulating prices for users.
After their arrest, the two men were taken to the National Revolutionary Police (PNR) station in Centro Habana. There, they were warned and fined a total of 48,000 pesos.
According to official information, each of them received a fine of 16,000 pesos under Decree 91 and another fine of 8,000 pesos under Decree 30. Additionally, their names were recorded in the police operational files, and they were warned that if they reoffend, they could be charged with the crime of disobedience.
Authorities also reported that during the operation, an operational license that had expired in 2022 was confiscated.
The so-called "passage managers" have been common in high-demand areas in Cuba for a long time. These individuals typically organize lines or gather passengers to quickly fill private cars offering transportation services, often negotiating or inflating the trip prices.
The Cuban government has increased pressure on private transporters and activities associated with the sector. In March 2024, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero warned that authorities might revoke licenses and even confiscate vehicles from those who raise transportation fares.
During a meeting of the Council of Ministers, Marrero urged local governments to apply "full rigor" against those who violate established prices, in a context marked by fuel shortages and the deterioration of state transportation.
However, daily reality shows that thousands of Cubans rely on private transportation to get around in cities like Havana, where the lack of buses and the irregularity of the service force many to resort to "boteo," even if it means paying increasingly higher prices.
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