Related videos:
Forces from the Ministry of the Interior (MININT) in Yaguajay, Sancti Spíritus, intercepted a tanker truck loaded with 6,000 liters of fuel oil intended for the illegal fuel trade, as confirmed by the newspaper Escambray this Monday.
The vehicle, officially designated for pit cleaning, was intercepted in the town of Calienes, on the border between the municipalities of Chambas in Ciego de Ávila and Yaguajay.
The lieutenant colonel Duvier Cabrales Pérez, head of MININT in Yaguajay, revealed that the authorities already had prior suspicions: "We had already suspected based on information that two previous trips had been made with suspicious conduct, as it was a tanker intended for the cleaning of pits."
The amount of fuel was confirmed in coordination with the representative of CUPET in the municipality.
According to Cabrales, the fuel oil came from an unusual source: "Although the investigative process is ongoing, this fuel originated from the initial refining process of the oil wells in La Faja, Pina, in Ciego de Ávila."
This industrial origin makes any justification for domestic or private use virtually unfeasible, and points to a broader distribution network.
The official outlined the potential charges: "Initially, a crime of receiving stolen property was filed, in coordination with the province of Ciego de Ávila, where the second part of the investigative process is currently taking place. Other types of crimes may also be processed, such as embezzlement or even robbery with force."
There are three individuals involved and one state entity involved: the Villa Clara Water and Sewer Company, owner of the water truck.
According to the lieutenant colonel, "two drivers presumably do not belong to the entity, meaning they were using a state transportation vehicle in the hands of private individuals."
The main subject identified as a self-employed worker dedicated to the manufacture of blinds, doors, and aluminum items, and claimed that the fuel was for use in his private activity.
The case once again exposes the cracks in the Cuban state system. Cabrales Pérez was straightforward about it: "We're talking about fuel, and obviously, that came from the state sector, where the fractures in internal control, resource protection, management, and their final destination become evident. Behind this, there is clearly the hand of a chain of non-compliance that resulted in an incident of this magnitude."
The incident occurs amidst the worst energy crisis Cuba has faced in years. The price of fuel on the black market has reached 1,000 Cuban pesos per liter, making the diversion of fuel a highly lucrative business for those operating outside the law.
The theft of fuel from the state sector is a structural issue on the island. In 2025, MININT reported having recovered 350,000 liters of stolen fuel just between January and August of that year, a figure that highlights the extent of a phenomenon that the energy crisis has only exacerbated.
Filed under: