An alleged robbery at a liquefied gas sales point in the Silvio Caro Popular Council in Bahía Honda, Artemisa, turned out to be a staged event orchestrated by the station's own manager. The pro-government outlet "Artemisa No Se Calla" revealed on Monday via Facebook that the incident involved the disappearance of 40 gas cylinders. Contrary to initial reports, these cylinders were not stolen by external thieves but were, in fact, diverted by the manager in collaboration with accomplices.
As the investigation unfolded, three individuals, including the gas station manager, were taken into custody. They confessed to fabricating the robbery to cover up the diversion of the gas cylinders. The authorities have so far managed to recover 20 of these cylinders, as emphasized by the regime's spokesperson.
The scheme involved staging a forced robbery to justify the missing product and facilitate its illicit diversion, according to the source. Those involved are facing charges of fraud and embezzlement. The search continues for the remaining 20 cylinders, and authorities are probing for potential additional accomplices.
The exposing profile condemned the incident as indicative of the lucrative black market surrounding essential resources for the Cuban population. It urged citizens to assist authorities by submitting anonymous reports.
Cuba's shortage of cooking liquefied gas has fueled a vast illegal market that encourages such criminal behavior. In June, the Ministry of the Interior (MININT) dismantled a network that specialized in the theft and illegal resale of gas cylinders in the province of Sancti Spíritus from January to May, according to official sources.
Lieutenant Colonel Rolando Rodríguez Carmenate, head of the Criminal Investigation Body of the MININT, informed Radio Sancti Spíritus that the gang comprised four individuals. Two were responsible for the thefts in the main municipal area, while the other two received and resold the cylinders in the city and the Meneses community in Yaguajay municipality.
The network's method of operation involved exploiting nighttime hours to break into vulnerable homes, stealing gas cylinders to sell them on the black market at prices far exceeding the official rate.
Insight into Artemisa Gas Cylinder Fraud
What was the motive behind the fake gas cylinder robbery?
The fake robbery was orchestrated to justify the absence of gas cylinders and facilitate their diversion for illegal purposes.
How many gas cylinders were recovered by the authorities?
Authorities have successfully recovered 20 out of the 40 missing gas cylinders.
What charges are the involved individuals facing?
The individuals implicated in the scheme are facing charges of fraud and embezzlement.
What impact has the gas shortage had on Cuba?
The shortage of cooking liquefied gas in Cuba has created a thriving black market, leading to increased criminal activity surrounding essential resources.