A group of five individuals involved in a series of armed robberies targeting homes and private businesses in the provinces of Havana and Pinar del Río has been apprehended, according to sources connected to the Ministry of the Interior (Minint). The Facebook page "De Pinar Soy," which is one of the numerous social media profiles managed by the Cuban regime as "media outlets," confirmed the arrest of this armed group known for carrying out violent thefts, although it did not specify the exact time and location of the arrests.
The post stated, "We have learned that five citizens are currently behind bars at 100 and Aldabó for their involvement in several violent robbery crimes," and it was accompanied by surveillance camera images showing the thieves inside one of the premises. It was detailed that the robbers broke into homes while residents were present and targeted private businesses, using ski masks and firearms to conceal their identities and subdue their victims.
One of the detainees was identified only as Ángel, originally from Pinar del Río but residing in Havana. The other individuals, whose names were not disclosed, are native to the Cuban capital. The post emphasized that these individuals had carried out their criminal activities on multiple occasions across both provinces.
No further information about the investigation leading to the arrests has been shared by the profile. So far, neither the authorities nor official press outlets have reported on this incident. The gang's operations are part of a worrying trend involving the possession and use of either conventional or homemade firearms to commit crimes, a trend that has been on the rise in Cuba.
In June 2024, the Cuban government acknowledged a troubling increase in violence, including the use of firearms. First Colonel Eddy Sierra Arias, head of the National Revolutionary Police (PNR), stated that this issue is linked to smuggling, drug trafficking, and a decline in societal ethical values.
Recently, there was the arrest of a man in Matanzas who threatened his partner with a shotgun during a domestic dispute. At the end of June, police captured three individuals who used a firearm in a home robbery in Santa Clara, causing severe injuries to one of the residents. In Camagüey, an employee of the Wholesale Agricultural Products Company was shot dead in March while guarding a food storage facility.
An armed robbery occurred in February in Havana, where two criminals, one wielding a long gun, stole a motorcycle from a courier in a parking area. The police also confiscated a homemade shotgun from a man with a criminal record for serious offenses in Matanzas.
In March of this year, the government passed a decree law to establish new regulations aimed at strengthening control over firearms, accessories, and ammunition amid a disturbing rise in violent gun-related incidents.
Understanding Crime and Firearm Issues in Cuba
What led to the increase in firearm-related crimes in Cuba?
The rise in firearm-related crimes in Cuba has been attributed to factors like smuggling, drug trafficking, and a decline in ethical values in society, as acknowledged by the Cuban government and law enforcement officials.
How is the Cuban government addressing the issue of armed violence?
To address the issue of armed violence, the Cuban government has implemented new regulations to tighten control over firearms, accessories, and ammunition, aiming to curb the alarming rise in violent incidents involving guns.
What actions have been taken against individuals involved in armed crimes?
Law enforcement has been actively arresting individuals involved in armed crimes, as seen in recent cases across various provinces, including the apprehension of a gang in Havana and Pinar del Río and other high-profile arrests involving firearms.