A 36-year-old Cuban citizen was arrested this Wednesday in Villahermosa, in the Mexican state of Tabasco, accused of stealing five aerosol deodorants from a branch of Farmacia Guadalajara without paying for them, as reported by the agency Quadratín Tabasco.
The Secretary of Public Security and Citizen Protection (SSPC) of Tabasco identified the detained individual as Raymundo N. and indicated that he was arrested by members of the State Highway Police after receiving a citizen report about an alleged robbery at the establishment located at the intersection of Pagés Llergo Avenue and Estatuto Jurídico Street, in the Adolfo López Mateos neighborhood.
According to the official report, witnesses described the suspect as a bald man wearing denim jeans, a dark shirt, and black shoes. With that information, the agents conducted a patrol of the area until they located an individual whose characteristics matched those described.
During the inspection, the police found five aerosol antiperspirants from the brand Old Spice in his possession. Each one has a price of 82.50 Mexican pesos in the Farmacia Guadalajara catalog, bringing the total value of the merchandise to 412.50 pesos, equivalent to about 20 dollars.
After the arrest, Raymundo N. was made available to the Public Prosecutor's Office along with the recovered items, so that the authorities can determine his legal situation for the alleged crime of commercial robbery.
The arrest occurs in a particularly complex context for the Cuban migrant community in Tabasco. Villahermosa has become one of the main concentration points for Cubans stranded in Mexico, many of whom are undocumented, without permission to work, and with limited access to housing or basic services.
Local activists estimated that, in April 2026, around 3,000 Cubans were living in that city in conditions of high vulnerability.
This is further compounded by a report from Human Rights Watch published in May 2026, which states that between January 20, 2025, and March 9, 2026, approximately 4,353 Cubans were deported from the United States to Mexico. Many of them were sent to cities like Villahermosa and Tapachula, arriving without documents, belongings, or support networks.
The organization documented that these migrants face significant obstacles in securing formal employment, medical care, and housing. The situation worsened in April 2026 when the Amparito shelter, the only migrant shelter in Villahermosa, suspended its operations due to an increase in violence in the area.
So far, the authorities have not disclosed the immigration status of Raymundo N. nor whether he is part of the group of deported Cubans currently in Tabasco.
This is not the first recent case of a Cuban citizen being detained in Mexico for a minor theft. In April 2026, a Cuban was arrested in Tapachula for an alleged robbery with violence; in February of that same year, another was detained in Mexico City accused of stealing eight pairs of boots; and in December 2025, a 20-year-old Cuban was arrested for a robbery at a supermarket in Puebla.
Raymundo N. remains in custody while the competent authority determines his legal situation.
Related videos:
Filed under: