A man identified as Yorquis Cabrera Santana was arrested in Matanzas following an operation at his residence, where authorities found 30 pieces of paper soaked in synthetic cannabinoid —commonly known as "the chemical"— and a large sum of cash.
According to a report this Sunday from the Facebook profile "With Everyone, Victory", linked to the Ministry of the Interior (MININT) in that province, the detainee remains in custody while investigations and forensic analyses are completed, after which they will be brought before the courts.
The publication, written in the characteristic triumphalist language of these regime propaganda profiles, states that Cabrera Santana has a criminal record for sexual assault, which would worsen his legal situation.
"With Everyone, Victory" is one of the pages affiliated with MININT that boast police operations on social media with political slogans while failing to provide independent evidence or verifiable procedural information.
So far, this alleged crime has not been verifiable by any other means.
The case is set against a backdrop of increasing repression by the regime against the trafficking of synthetic cannabinoids, which has resulted in prison sentences ranging from four to 15 years across the island.
Medical emergencies due to "chemical" consumption doubled between 2024 and 2025, increasing from 467 to 886 cases, according to official data.
In Cuba, at least 40 variants of these substances are circulating, some adulterated with fentanyl, formaldehyde, anesthetics for animals, and phenobarbital.
These substances, low-cost and highly profitable, have become some of the most sought after and consumed by young people.
Prosecutor Fernando Sera Plana warned last year about the change in the methods of introduction and distribution of synthetic cannabinoids, which can enter the country in unconventional forms, including being soaked in paper.
He specified that a dose of just 0.01 grams can be sold for up to 300 pesos and that, unlike previous stages, trafficking is currently moving from Havana to Holguín.
Matanzas is also the province with the highest crime rate in the country: in 2025 it recorded 503 verified crimes, the highest figure in Cuba.
Judicial repression surrounding this drug has led to harsh sentences in recent months.
The Holguín Court sentenced a man to eight years in prison for trafficking just 11 packets of "chemical," while the Granma Court imposed seven years on a young man for carrying two packets along with cash.
The sentence for the latter included seven years of imprisonment, additional penalties of deprivation of rights, and the seizure of the items related to the crime.
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