A car is violently stolen in Havana and the thieves are captured in Santiago after crossing almost the entire country

Two men who allegedly stole a rental car in Havana were caught hundreds of kilometers away after attempting to sell the vehicle in Santiago de Cuba, according to reports shared on social media by profiles linked to the Ministry of the Interior (MININT).

The posts from the pages "El Cubano Fiel" and "Héroes del Moncada" claim that the incident began in the capital, where the suspects violently seized a Hyundai Venue belonging to a car rental agency. With the vehicle in their possession, they embarked on a long journey across the island with the apparent intention of selling it illegally in the eastern region.

According to those reports, the police were already aware of what had happened and set up an operation at the entrance to Santiago de Cuba. There, the two individuals were arrested and the vehicle recovered, bringing an end to a journey that would have crossed much of the country.

Although the details come solely from official sources or those affiliated with the state apparatus—without independent confirmation or additional information about the identities of the detainees—the case once again highlights the rise in crimes associated with the theft and resale of vehicles in Cuba, amid an economic crisis that drives many towards informal or illegal markets.

This is not the first time incidents of this nature have been reported. Previously, there was documentation of the theft of a Hyundai tourist rental in Puerto Padre, in the province of Las Tunas, which shows that this phenomenon is not limited to the capital. In another case recorded in the center of the country, two men were arrested in Villa Clara with two tourist rental cars, using increasingly elaborate methods to appropriate the vehicles.

The context of insecurity in Cuba is alarming. According to recent data, the country recorded 2,833 verified crimes, an increase of 115% compared to 2024, a figure that reflects the ongoing deterioration of public safety throughout the national territory.

Geographically, this case is significant because it involves precisely the areas with the highest crime rates in the country. Santiago de Cuba and Havana are among the four provinces with the highest crime rates, making this journey of nearly 900 kilometers a route between two of the epicenters of the problem.

The situation has even prompted diplomatic warnings. The United States Embassy in Cuba issued a , advising its citizens to take extra precautions during their stay on the island.