A couple was arrested in the main municipality of Artemisa following a police operation carried out on 31st street, between 52 and 54, as reported by the official Facebook page Artemisa Noticias Cuba.
One of the most relevant elements of the case is that the man detained worked as a stretcher bearer at the Ciro Redondo hospital and allegedly, according to the publication, was selling drugs both inside the health center and in its surroundings.
The operation and the detainees
The post, shared this Tuesday under the hashtag #HeroesDeAzul, states that the incident occurred "a few days ago," without specifying the exact date.
The photographs accompanying the publication—featuring the faces of the accused pixelated—show numerous Cuban bills among the confiscated evidence, as well as police vehicles marked with the label "Guardia Operativa" at the site of the operation.
According to Artemisa Noticias Cuba, the man took advantage of his job at the hospital to distribute the substance, while his wife allegedly participated in the sales from the street and from the home they shared.
The official publication does not identify those arrested nor specify the type or quantity of drugs that were allegedly seized.
The official media called on the public to get involved in reporting these crimes: “We have the responsibility to report, to make these events visible, and to highlight the serious harm they cause to our population, especially to the youth.”
More anti-drug operations in Cuba
The arrest occurs amid several drug operations reported in various provinces of Cuba.
On September 17, forces from the Ministry of the Interior (MININT) dismantled a network in Central Havana during an operation that resulted in 13 arrests and six home searches. Authorities also reported the seizure of cocaine and 184 strips of synthetic cannabinoids.
Days later, two operations in Guantánamo resulted in several arrests in cases related to marijuana and the so-called "chemical."
In August, a man was arrested in Matanzas with 30 paper strips of synthetic cannabinoids and a sum of cash.
In March 2026, the Provincial People's Court of Artemisa had sentenced two Cubans to 15 years in prison for the trafficking of synthetic cannabinoids, in a trial described by the authorities as "exemplary."
Despite these operations, the indicators related to synthetic drug use continue to raise concern.
According to official data cited by the AP agency, medical emergencies related to synthetic cannabinoids in Havana almost doubled between 2024 and 2025, increasing from 467 to 886 cases.
Cuban laboratories have identified at least 46 variants of these substances in circulation.
A dose of the so-called "chemical" or "little paper" costs around 250 Cuban pesos (about 0.50 dollars), according to the cited data.
Reactions following the operation
The comments posted on the official page show both support for the arrest and questions about the effectiveness of the operations to control drug trafficking and consumption.
"Excellent operation; they should do it in all municipalities, as this is destroying the youth," wrote a user.
Another commentator questioned the extent of these actions: "Seriously, I don't know how effective it is when every day there are more children and young people using [it] and the neighborhoods are overflowing."
Several internet users also reported that drug sales remain visible in various areas and called for a more effective response from the authorities.
"There are long-time vendors in Artemisa who are still at large. Why does this happen?" was another question raised.
Another comment questioned the effectiveness of police actions: “Here in my neighborhood, they rounded up a group [...] and later released them in the afternoon.”
The phenomenon occurs amid a complex social and economic situation in Cuba. As a Cuban recently warned on social media, issues such as "stress, blackouts, water shortages, the cost of living, and poor living conditions" are now compounded by concerns over the spread of synthetic drugs.
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