Several individuals were detained in Sancti Spíritus for their alleged involvement in the theft of over 50 bags of skimmed milk powder and other products from the warehouses of Empresa de Productos Lácteos Río Zaza, according to reported the official Facebook profile "Mi lealtad acrisolada," linked to the Ministry of the Interior (MININT) in that province.
The method: through the roof and with a rope
According to the account shared by the official profile, those involved entered the warehouse through the roof of the building and used a rope to descend through a window to extract the products.
Subsequently, they transported the bags to a private home that served as a clandestine warehouse, from where they were allegedly sold in the informal market.
The same source stated that the police were tracking the individuals involved before making the arrests and that a significant portion of the goods was recovered and returned to the warehouses of Río Zaza.
In its post, "My Forged Loyalty" celebrated the arrests and the recovery of the products with a warning: "Let no one be confused: anyone who messes with what belongs to the people will face consequences."
The profile did not specify how many people were detained, the exact date of the arrests, nor the amount of bags recovered.
It also did not provide details about the intended destination for the milk before the theft. The investigation, according to the source, remains open.
Citizen reaction
The news generated a strong reaction among Facebook users.
Although some comments expressed disapproval of the theft, a significant portion of the responses collected in the publication focused on the existence of dozens of bags of milk in the company's warehouses, in contrast to the supply difficulties reported by Cuban families.
“And what about that milk stored there? If it’s for the people, why haven’t they given any to newborns for a while now?”, wrote a user, in one of the questions that were repeatedly asked in different forms by the commenters.
Others directed their criticisms towards potential irregularities within the state institutions themselves and questioned why police actions focus solely on those who physically steal the products.
“Well, those who were stealing through the roof have already been caught; now we need to catch those who take them out through the door,” commented another citizen, referring to potential diversion of resources from inside the entities.
Mistrust towards control mechanisms also emerged in interventions that raised suspicions about the responsibility of other actors, although they did not provide concrete evidence of their involvement in this case.
"Sometimes I think they let them steal to justify what others have already stolen, and then they place the entire shortfall on the weakest link," expressed another user.
Reports about the lack of milk for children took a prominent place in the conversation. A mother described the difficulties she faces in obtaining the product and the high prices in the informal market.
From Casilda, in the municipality of Trinidad, another commentator reported a similar situation: "They are stealing the milk meant for the sick and children because here in the village of Casilda, the little ones have not received either powdered or liquid milk for three months."
The testimonies reflect these citizens' discomfort regarding the scarcity of the product and the mistrust generated by news about thefts and food hoarding.
The case occurs in a company that has faced serious financial and production issues.
The Río Zaza Dairy Products Company has accumulated a debt exceeding 150 million pesos with private producers, a situation that has contributed to the halt of a significant portion of milk production in Sancti Spíritus since late 2024.
Related videos:
Filed under: