Official propaganda in Cuba boasts "confidence in the police" as thefts increase due to the energy crisis

The Ministry of the Interior (MININT) published a propaganda message this Sunday on its Facebook page "Heroes in Blue in Cuba" from the municipality of Colón, in Matanzas, boasting of "confidence," while documented data reveals an unprecedented wave of criminality in that same province.

The post, which celebrates the recovery of stolen goods—specifically solar panels—and their return to the owners, blames the U.S. embargo for the energy crisis driving the thefts: "The complexities that the blockade has imposed on us lead the people of Cuba to seek alternatives to cope with the harsh crisis."

The publication states that "the faces of the inhabitants of the Colombian land show gratitude towards the officials" and concludes with a rhetorical call: "Because in the midst of the darkness they try to impose on us, legality and trust in our justice system always shine brighter."

The reality that MININT tries to hide with that message is striking. Matanzas was the province with the highest number of crimes in the entire country in 2025, with 503 verified cases, according to the Cuban Citizen Audit Observatory (OCAC).

At the national level, the OCAC documented 2,833 crimes in 2025, an increase of 115% compared to 2024 and 337% compared to 2023, with 1,536 thefts —a rise of 479% since 2023— being the most common crime.

In the municipality of Colón itself, just days before the propaganda post, thieves emptied the home of a mother and her minor son during the night of April 6 to 7, and the National Revolutionary Police (PNR) did not respond days after the report was filed.

In March, seven hooded men on horseback attacked an agricultural cooperative in San José de los Ramos—also in the municipality of Colón—and stole nine cattle while firing shots into the air.

On the other hand, solar panel thefts have multiplied throughout the island. In Las Tunas, there were recorded eight thefts at rural pumping stations in less than six months, leaving communities without water.

The propaganda pattern of the MININT is systematic. On April ninth, they staged a public event for the return of stolen goods in Punta Gorda, Cienfuegos, and on April seventh, they organized another one in Isla de la Juventud where they returned a television stolen from a nursing home, presenting both as major victories.

Meanwhile, 20% of the PNR personnel have left the force in the past year due to a lack of resources, and entire communities have resorted to taking justice into their own hands due to police inaction.