A speedboat with 21 people on board departed this Saturday from the shores of Dimas, in the municipality of Mantua, Pinar del Río, heading to Cancun, Mexico, as confirmed by the independent platform NiO Reportando Un Crimen in a video shared on Facebook.
The vessel took a maritime route that crosses the Gulf of Mexico, considered particularly dangerous due to the distances and sea conditions. At the time of publication, the platform had not been able to confirm that the 21 occupants arrived safely at their destination.
"The vessel is heading towards Cancún, Mexico, using a dangerous maritime route that once again highlights the magnitude of the economic and social crisis facing Cuba," stated NiO Reportando Un Crimen in its publication.
"From NiO Reporting a Crime, we are following up on this information and hope to confirm soon that the 21 individuals have arrived safely at their destination," concluded the platform.
The town of Dimas, located in the westernmost part of Pinar del Río, has become one of the most active irregular maritime departure points in the country heading to Mexico. The area was the scene, just weeks ago, of at least two extremely serious incidents.
In mid-August, two young men—Leodannis Sánchez, 17, and Osmaikel, 19—drowned in Sandino, Pinar del Río, while trying to reach Cancún in a boat with a malfunctioning engine.
Just before, a group of 19 Cubans who left Havana for Mexico —including seven minors— was missing for several days until the Mexican Navy located the vessel near Yucatán. The official rescue was of 16 people, a number lower than the 19 who had departed.
In March, the disappearance of eight Cuban rafters who left Pinar del Río in February heading to Mexico was also reported.
The speedboats represent a more expensive method than traditional rafts, but equally dangerous. Their use has spread in western Cuba as an alternative route to Florida, partly due to the tightening of U.S. immigration policy and the increase in deportations.
In the first half of 2026, at least 740 Cubans were forcibly repatriated from the United States. By August, that total had risen to 882 individuals in 31 operations, according to data collected by international agencies.
The phenomenon reflects an unprecedented migration crisis. According to the Cuban Migration Risk Index produced by El Toque, the indicator reached its highest level in April 2026, classified as "extreme."
The underlying figures are equally revealing: the National Office of Statistics and Information (ONEI) reported that Cuba lost 313,414 inhabitants between 2024 and 2025 due to migration, which is equivalent to 2.5% of its total population, driven by prolonged blackouts, food shortages, and the economic decline accumulated over decades of dictatorship.
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