An official pro-government Facebook profile linked to the Ministry of Interior (MININT) reported the alleged seizure of seven shotguns and various ammunition during a search of a home in the Juan Gualberto Gómez People's Council, in the municipality of Unión de Reyes, Matanzas.
The information was shared by the profile "With Everyone, Victory", which described the discovery as a "tremendous arsenal."
According to the report, during the search seven shotguns, Makarov pistol cartridges, and casings described as .22 caliber, AKM, rifle, and 12 millimeters were seized.
The report states that the detained man claimed that he was engaged in repairing firearms.
The same source claims that the origin of the weapons, their legal status, and the identity of their owners are being investigated.
It also states that the man remains detained for alleged illegal possession of firearms.
Users defend the detained individual and question the police's actions
The post provoked numerous reactions on Facebook, including comments from people who claim to know the detained individual and assert that he has been repairing hunting weapons for years.
“He is a good man and very serious about his work, he is a gunsmith with several years of experience, he is not a criminal, he is a hunter”, wrote one of the commentators.
Others questioned the lack of state services for the maintenance of these weapons and defended the activity of private gunsmiths.
"What's the crime in repairing weapons if the state doesn't have workshops to fix or maintain hunting firearms, and these private mechanics or gunsmiths have always existed?" asked a user.
Another participant criticized presenting the detainee as a criminal before the investigation is concluded: "What a lack of respect to label someone a criminal without having evidence of what they are accused of."
Other users are calling for an investigation into the origin of the weapons
Not all reactions were critical of the police's action.
Some users deemed it necessary to determine whether the shotguns were legally registered and if the detainee had authorization to repair them.
"If it is someone who repairs them, they should not be afraid since those weapons must be legally registered, but if they were dedicated to repairing any weapon without asking whether it was legal, then they will have to face the law," noted a commentator.
Another insisted that it is up to the authorities and the courts to determine whether a crime occurred: "The police will determine if the shotguns are illegal or not [...] Don't rush to label the man a criminal; that's what the courts are for."
As of the closure of this report, it is unknown whether the detainee had authorization to repair weapons or if the seized shotguns belonged to owners with valid licenses.
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