An operation by the Special Brigade of the Ministry of the Interior (Minint)—commonly known as "Black Berets"—triggered a massive stampede on Sunday night outside the Camagüey Rodeo, with reports of assaults on young people, damaged motorcycles, and confiscation of mobile phones, according to testimonies collected by journalist José L. Tan Estrada on Facebook.
The place is a regular meeting point for motorcyclists every Saturday to gather and race in an area that, according to several individuals, had been approved for that activity. At the time of the departure, agents cornered the attendees from several access points simultaneously—using police motorcycles and patrols deployed from the Santa Cruz road—triggering a mass escape that ended in collisions and falls.
The testimonies describe a use of force that goes beyond the goal of dispersing those present: agents striking young people with boots and batons, throwing stones at those attempting to escape on their motorcycles, and four members of the special forces delivering blows to a young man who was already on the ground.
One person reported being hit in the back while fleeing. Another alleged that a young woman riding a motorcycle was struck with a baton. Additionally, a "gacela" type bus, carrying members of the Black Berets, arrived in the area of the paladares — including the well-known "El Canoso" — and its occupants got out, distributing blows and destroying motorcycles.
Several of those detained had their mobile phones seized to prevent them from recording what was happening. Among the information circulating on social media, there are mentions of a possible death and that a minor suffered multiple injuries, although none of these details have been independently confirmed.
The owner of a small to medium-sized enterprise in the area stated that this is not the first time they have experienced police harassment and that, when trying to file formal complaints, the officers always respond the same way: "They are just following orders."
"Why target young people who just want to engage in this activity respectfully in an area that was supposedly approved for its better development? Why not use that force, that energy, and that time to pursue thieves or, at the very least, pay attention to much bigger issues? The motorcyclist is not a police object," the woman wrote in the comments alongside an image showing the police presence in the area.
That question summarizes the debate generated by the complaints on social media. Numerous commentators pointed out that crime in Camagüey has escalated in 2026 —with thefts, assaults, and cattle theft as the dominant crimes— while the Special Brigade remains inactive in the face of these events.
"If they did the same when people report to the police about criminal gangs robbing, perhaps the level of theft and vandalism in Camagüey wouldn't be so high," wrote one of the users.
Others acknowledged that motorcyclists create excessive noise during nighttime, ride without helmets or licenses, and pose a road safety risk, although they do not justify physical violence for this reason. Some witnesses, including nearby residents of the Rodeo, confirmed seeing the police presence and hearing the chaos of the escape.
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