A man identified only as Juan Ramón was arrested on the Holguín-Moa road, near the Los Pinos popular council, after agents from 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 Interior (MININT) that shares police operations with a propagandistic tone.
According to that official version —the only one available, as there are no statements from the detainee or his family, nor confirmation from independent sources— the money was found in a seat of the car during a routine inspection.
The publication states that Juan Ramón was unable to present documentation or provide an explanation that would justify the origin of the funds, which is why he was reported for suspected illicit enrichment while investigations continue.
It is important to contextualize the origin of the information: Héroes de Azul in Cuba is a digital propaganda tool of the MININT that publishes operations with triumphalist language and political slogans, and it has been used to narrate anti-drug raids, cattle seizures, and now, this case.
His publications present the facts as police victories before any sentencing has taken place, which directly contradicts the Cuban Criminal Procedure Law (Law 143/2021, art. 5), which states that "every person is presumed innocent until a final conviction sentence is issued."
The crime of illicit enrichment, as defined in Article 192.1 of the Penal Code (Law 151/2022), punishes those who increase their wealth in a manner that is not proportional to their legal income without justifying the lawful origin of the assets.
The penalty prescribed ranges from three to eight years of imprisonment, along with potential confiscation. However, Cuban legislation itself establishes that the burden of proof lies with the prosecution, not the accused.
How much is 29 million pesos in Cuba in 2026?
This is perhaps the question that generated the most debate. With the dollar trading in the informal market at around 760 Cuban pesos , the 29 million pesos amount to approximately 38,000 dollars.
That figure, which seems enormous in nominal terms, appears less extraordinary when contrasted with the economic reality of the island. A mid-range car can cost between 25 and 40 million Cuban pesos; a shipping container of goods exceeds that amount.
The official average salary in Cuba in 2025 was 6,930 pesos per month, which is equivalent to only about 10 to 13 dollars at the informal exchange rate, while a small family needs around 96,000 pesos a 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 that same period.
In that context, those who buy or sell vehicles, real estate, or wholesale goods often deal with amounts of that magnitude in cash, which increasingly blurs the line between "great fortune" and "legitimate operating capital."
The avalanche of comments: three main themes
The publication of Héroes de Azul in Cuba sparked an intense controversy on social media, articulated around three main 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 asked, "Where is the principle of presumption of innocence? He doesn't have to prove that he is innocent; the burden of proof lies with the accuser."
The questions "What is the crime?" and "Is having money a crime now?" were echoed in multiple comments.
An internet user summed it up succinctly: "Since when does he have to explain what HIS MONEY is for?"
- Devaluation as a Context
Another block of comments focused on what the figure really represents.
"29 million is 36,250 dollars, a Palisade; here there are those who have three or four Palisade cars," a user estimated.
"That's the essence of a micro, small, and medium enterprise," pointed out another. "A shipping container is worth more than that," added a third.
Irony also found its place: "29 million is two pizzas and a Tukola" or "Take a good look at the briefcase, because next year that's going to be a dozen eggs and a liter of oil at this rate" were some of the phrases that circulated, reflecting the frustration over the skyrocketing inflation
"Nowadays, it's normal to carry 29 million pesos, as long as they are 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.
"Tip in sight; they didn't stop him and conduct such a search for nothing," one wrote. "How did the police find out he had that money? What a coincidence that they searched the car," asked another.
This suspicion was compounded by a recurring doubt about the fate of the funds: "So where did that money go?" and "Now explain who will be receiving that money" were questions that were repeatedly asked.
Not everyone defended the detainee: "If he can justify it, let him defend himself," remarked a commentator, adding that "that amount of money is not child's play."
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