Truck Overloaded with Meat Products Collapses on Las Tunas Highway

A refrigerated truck owned by the Mexican company Richmeat was involved in an accident on Tuesday, May 13, in the municipality of Majibacoa, located in the province of Las Tunas. The trailer bent visibly, partially blocking the road. Witnesses captured the incident on video, which quickly spread across social media, showing the trailer’s structure arching and obstructing the road. "Oh no, it's loaded with boxes of chicken!" lamented a bystander in the video.

No injuries have been reported, but the crash has sparked numerous comments on platforms like Facebook. Many users speculate the accident might have resulted from poor road conditions or improper load distribution. The mishap took place specifically in the area of Blanca Rosa, as detailed by users from the group "Accidents Buses & Trucks."

The crashed truck belongs to Richmeat, a company frequently criticized for its ties to the Cuban regime. Although officially presented as a "100% foreign-owned" Mexican enterprise, numerous indications suggest it operates as a commercial front for the Cuban state. Its most well-known product on the island is the minced meat "El Cocinerito," often criticized for its low quality.

Images from the scene show a second truck from the same company stopped next to the affected vehicle, with motorcyclists and pedestrians cautiously surrounding the area. Two warning triangles were placed to alert other drivers, although traffic was clearly disrupted. This accident highlights a troubling context: according to Transport Minister Eduardo Rodríguez Ávila, road fatalities in Cuba increased by 18% in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the previous year. Las Tunas ranks among the provinces with the highest growth in road fatalities, following Villa Clara, Cienfuegos, Sancti Spíritus, Ciego de Ávila, Camagüey, and Granma.

Richmeat's Controversial Role in Cuba

Richmeat de Cuba S.A. was the first foreign company to establish itself in the Mariel Special Development Zone (ZEDM), inaugurating its meat processing plant in January 2020. By March 2023, the factory was producing around 3,000 metric tons of minced meat monthly, though production has since decreased to over 2,000 metric tons per month.

The Cuban regime has recognized the company with the “National Vanguard” distinction for the third consecutive year in 2024, despite ongoing criticism of its product quality and the widespread food shortages in the country. In November 2023, Richmeat announced the opening of a second meat processing plant in Cuba, aimed at sausage production. Additionally, in March 2025, the company took over the management and commercialization of the "La Favorita Meat Products Store" in Havana, in partnership with the Cuban state-owned Tiendas Caribe.

Despite its expansion, Richmeat has faced criticism over its product quality. In February 2022, a consumer discovered a frog inside a package of seasoned mixed minced meat produced by Richmeat, sparking outrage and concerns about the hygiene standards in their production process. The presence of companies like Richmeat in the Cuban market continues to stir controversy, especially due to the lack of transparency in their operations and the questionable quality of the food they distribute.

Recurring Transportation Incidents Highlight Systemic Issues

This accident is part of a series of similar incidents in recent years in Cuba, underscoring persistent problems in food transportation across the island. In January 2025, another truck loaded with chicken overturned in the Río Piedras area of Guanabacoa, Havana. While no injuries were reported, the incident alarmed residents and highlighted the fragility of the country's food distribution system.

A year earlier, in January 2024, a truck carrying a container of chicken met with an accident on a highway in Las Tunas, spilling its contents into the ditch. The accident required cranes to be deployed to lift the container and reposition it on the truck bed. In August 2021, yet another truck loaded with chicken boxes overturned on the highway while traveling from Las Tunas to Camagüey. According to witness accounts, locals rushed to take the chicken boxes to their homes, reflecting the desperation caused by food shortages.

These recurring incidents highlight the urgent need to review and improve food transportation conditions in Cuba, as well as to address the underlying causes contributing to these accidents, such as the state of the roads, vehicle overloading, and inadequate maintenance.