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International Packages Stalled in Havana: Over 4,000 Parcels Fail to Reach Sancti Spíritus

Monday, June 23, 2025 by Oscar Fernandez

International Packages Stalled in Havana: Over 4,000 Parcels Fail to Reach Sancti Spíritus
Parcel transportation - Image by © Escambray

More than 4,000 international parcels, originally destined for Sancti Spíritus, remain stranded in Havana. This situation has resulted in a financial loss of 3 million pesos for the state-run Correos de Cuba, as reported by the local pro-government media.

“The delivery of international parcels is severely impacted across the country due to well-known issues such as fuel shortages, transportation difficulties, and a lack of tires, spare parts, and batteries,” explained Carlos Ovey Gotera González, the director of Correos in Sancti Spíritus, to Escambray. His response to numerous complaints seemed to deflect blame.

According to González, the established procedure requires that international parcels bound for the province be delivered to them directly. However, given the current situation, they sometimes seize the opportunity to transport parcels when visiting the capital for other business reasons.

Despite these challenges, the Sancti Spíritus branch of Correos manages to distribute the parcels they receive within 48 hours. “Once the parcels arrive, it's our responsibility to sort and process them. Even with scarce fuel and the same systemic issues affecting all state enterprises, we deliver within 48 hours by collaborating with non-state entities involved in parcel distribution. They provide us with fuel to distribute both their packages and ours,” González justified.

In 2024, the Sancti Spíritus branch failed to receive approximately 38,400 expected shipments, resulting in a loss of around 6 million pesos, according to the report. However, the reasons for this deficit remain unclear.

Recently, Correos de Cuba admitted that only 0.02% of the over 745,000 shipments handled between 2024 and the first quarter of 2025 were altered, stolen, or lost. Nonetheless, they attributed these issues to postal and customs operators, emphasizing that parcels pass through both foreign and Cuban hands before reaching the country.

At the end of 2024, the Cuban government boasted about improved package deliveries, citing only 72 annual complaints. Although official reports highlight reduced complaints and logistical progress, structural problems and high demand persist, with the public continuing to report delays and, notably, theft from packages, undermining the regime's narrative.

In May, Aimeé Plasencia Ferrás, a Cuban citizen residing in Santa Marta, Cárdenas, Matanzas province, made a public complaint after receiving aluminum profiles instead of the two Philips televisions she had shipped from Panama.

Challenges in Cuban Parcel Delivery System

What are the main reasons for parcel delivery delays in Cuba?

The primary reasons for delays include fuel shortages, transportation issues, and a lack of crucial supplies like tires and spare parts.

How does Correos de Cuba plan to address these delivery issues?

Correos de Cuba is attempting to mitigate delivery delays by collaborating with non-state entities that provide additional fuel resources to facilitate the distribution of parcels.

What percentage of shipments were reported lost or altered?

Only 0.02% of the shipments handled between 2024 and early 2025 were reported as lost, altered, or stolen.

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