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Cuban customs authorities detected hidden methamphetamine in microwave popcorn packages at the José Martí International Airport in Havana, during the latest anti-drug operation recorded in the capital of the island.
Wiliam Pérez González, First Deputy Chief of the General Customs of the Republic, reported the discovery via his account on X, where he posted images of the seizure.
"New detection of methamphetamine at Havana Airport; the drug was attempted to be smuggled hidden in several bags of popcorn in a suitcase," wrote the official.
The photographs show three kraft paper popcorn bags for microwaving, with instructions in Spanish and English, one of which is opened containing a crystalline white substance inside.
A detection dog wearing a black harness appears in the images inspecting the trays with the seized packages in the customs control area, while a colorimetric chemical test confirmed the presence of methamphetamine.
The operation was carried out in coordination between Customs and the Specialized Anti-Drug Combat Body at the border, whose "professionalism and integration" Pérez González highlighted in his post.
This case represents at least the seventh drug operation intercepted at Havana's airport in 2026, following a trend of concealing drugs within everyday food items that has intensified in recent months.
On April 20, the authorities detected methamphetamine hidden in a package of rice from the brand Verde Valle at the same airport.
The following day, April 21, 19 sheets soaked with synthetic cannabinoids hidden in cereals sent from the United States were seized, preventing the circulation of 22,800 doses of a substance that is 50 to 100 times more potent than marijuana.
In January 2026, the authorities had already seized marijuana hidden in cereal packages and instant sodas at the same airport.
On May 3, just five days before the discovery of the popcorn, 48 capsules of narcotics were detected inside the body of a passenger at the Havana airport.
The pattern of hiding drugs in well-known food brands suggests a deliberate strategy to exploit the innocuous appearance of mass consumer products.
On April 22 new customs decrees came into effect in Cuba that tighten border controls, in a context where between 2024 and December 2025, 72 drug trafficking operations from 11 countries were thwarted.
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