A man identified only as Juan Ramón was arrested on the Holguín-Moa highway, near the Los Pinos popular council, after agents of the National Revolutionary Police allegedly found 29 million Cuban pesos in cash inside the private vehicle he was traveling in, according to a post on Facebook by Héroes de Azul en Cuba, a page linked to the Ministry of the Interior (MININT) that disseminates police operations in a propagandistic tone.
According to the official version —the only one available, as there is no statement from the detainee or their family, nor confirmation from independent sources— the money was found in a seat of the car during a routine inspection.
The publication stated that Juan Ramón could not provide documentation or offer an explanation justifying the source of the funds, which is why he was reported for alleged illicit enrichment while investigations continue.
It is important to identify the source of the information: Héroes de Azul in Cuba is a digital propaganda tool of MININT that publishes police operations using triumphalist language and political slogans. It has been used to narrate drug raids, livestock seizures, arrests of suspected thieves, crimes, and other offenses, to which this case is now added.
Their publications portray events as police victories before any sentencing exists, creating a direct conflict with the Cuban Criminal Procedure Law (Law 143/2021, art. 5), which states that "every person is presumed innocent until there is a final conviction."
The crime of illicit enrichment, as defined in Article 192.1 of the Penal Code (Law 151/2022), penalizes anyone who increases their wealth in a manner not proportional to their legal income without justifying the lawful origin of the assets.
The penalty ranges from three to eight years of deprivation of liberty, in addition to possible confiscation. However, Cuban legislation itself establishes that the burden of proof lies with the prosecution, not the accused.
How much do 29 million pesos represent in Cuba in 2026?
This is perhaps the issue that generated the most debate. With the dollar trading in the informal market at around 760 Cuban pesos, the 29 million pesos are equivalent to approximately 38,000 dollars.
That figure, which seems enormous in nominal terms, becomes less remarkable when contrasted with the economic reality of the island. A mid-range car can cost between 25 and 40 million Cuban pesos; a container of goods exceeds that amount.
The official average salary in Cuba in 2025 was 6,930 pesos per month, equivalent to just between 10 and 13 dollars on the informal exchange rate, while a small family needs around 96,000 pesos per month to cover their basic needs.
The year-on-year inflation reached 25.19% in August 2026, with food prices rising by 36.01% during the same period.
In that context, those who buy or sell vehicles, real estate, or wholesale goods typically handle sums of that magnitude in cash, which blurs the line between "great fortune" and "legitimate operating capital" increasingly.
The avalanche of comments: three main axes
The release of Héroes de Azul in Cuba sparked intense controversy on social media, articulated around three major lines of debate.
- Presumption of innocence
Numerous users questioned whether carrying cash is in itself a crime.
"Is it illegal to have 29 million pesos? That person is not guilty until proven otherwise," wrote a user.
Another one asked, "Where is the principle of the presumption of innocence? He does not have to prove that he is legal; the burden of proof lies with the accuser."
The questions "What is the crime?" and "Is it now a crime to have money?" were echoed in multiple comments.
One internet user summarized it succinctly: "Since when does he have to explain what HIS MONEY is for?"
- Devaluation as context
Another set of comments focused on what the figure really represents.
"29 million is $36,250, a Palisade; here there are people who have three or four Palisades," calculated a user.
"That's the bottom line for a small or medium-sized enterprise," said another. "A shipping container is worth more than that," added a third.
Irony also found its place: "29 million equals two pizzas and a Tukola" or "Take a good look at the briefcase, because next year that will be a carton of eggs and a liter of oil at this rate" were some of the phrases that circulated, reflecting the frustration with rampant inflation.
"Nowadays, it's normal to carry 29 million pesos, as long as it's legal," concluded another commentator.
- Distrust towards the operation and the destination of the money
A significant portion of the users assumed —without providing evidence— that the police acted based on prior information.
"A tip is in sight; they didn't stop him and conduct such a search without reason," wrote one. "How did the police find out he had that money? What a coincidence that they searched his car," questioned another.
That suspicion was coupled with a recurring doubt about the fate of the funds: "Where did that money go now?" and "Now explain to us who will receive that money" were questions that were repeated.
Not everyone defended the detainee: "If he can justify it, let him defend himself," noted a commentator, adding that "that amount of money is no child's play."
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