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At least seven people have been detained in the municipality of Guantánamo for being part of an organized diesel theft network within the site of a 110 kV generator group, according to the Facebook profile "Guantánamo and its truth", which reported the case based on a follower's testimony.
The individuals involved were directly linked to the operation and protection of the site, and they took advantage of the night shifts to steal fuel on more than one occasion.
The theft and the concealed damage
The volume of stolen diesel amounts to approximately 300 liters, but the actual damage is significantly greater.
To hide the shortage, the authors filled the engines with water, which led to the contamination of around 900 additional liters of diesel that can no longer be used.
The total impact on the available fuel thus exceeds 1,200 liters between what was stolen and what has been rendered unusable, a direct blow to the already precarious electricity generation in the province.
The network was not limited to theft; there was an organized chain to sell diesel in the informal market.
In at least one of the operations, those involved shared more than 50,000 Cuban pesos, an amount that reflects the extremely high value that fuel has reached amid the energy crisis.
The Citizen Reaction: Between Condemnation and Distrust
The post generated a wide reaction on social media, with three predominant streams of opinion.
The majority condemns the theft and demands harsh penalties: "Let the full weight of the law fall on those responsible," wrote a user. Others point to institutional responsibility: "More control and oversight are needed; it's not just about sanctioning the workers, but also those who were supposed to be monitoring."
A third perspective links the phenomenon to the economic crisis without absolving the perpetrators: "The economic crisis drives some people to commit crimes, although that does not exempt them from responsibility."
But perhaps the comment that best summarizes the state of opinion is the most succinct: "The word that explains these facts is just one: chaos."
The distrust in the regime's ability to eradicate these practices was also reflected in another widely circulated remark: "What is concerning is that workers are punished while the bosses suffer no consequences."
A context of extreme blackouts
The case takes place in one of the provinces most affected by the Cuban electrical crisis. In April 2026, residents of Guantánamo protested due to power outages that only allowed them electricity for 45 minutes to an hour each day.
In May 2026, the energy crisis forced the distribution of unpasteurized milk due to a lack of fuel for the boilers, and the national electric deficit exceeded 2,100 MW, worsening blackouts throughout the province.
In that scenario, diesel generators became the last line of defense to support hospitals and vital services, making fuel theft at these locations have an immediate and direct impact on the population.
A widespread phenomenon throughout Cuba
The Guantánamo case is not an isolated one. The MININT identified generators as one of the main sources of fuel theft in the country, and between January and August 2025, 350,000 liters of stolen fuel were recovered nationwide.
In August 2025, four individuals were arrested in Holguín for stealing 411 liters of diesel from the ETECSA generator in Cacocum, facing charges of sabotage. In October 2025, a state program uncovered another theft network in generators in Havana, where the fuel was stored in homes and sold to private transporters.
CUPET publicly acknowledged that workers, guards, brigade leaders, and managers from the state entities themselves are involved in these thefts.
The Cuban Penal Code of 2022 categorizes sabotage against energy facilities with penalties ranging from seven to 30 years in prison for aggravated forms.
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