In a recent turn of events, Cuban authorities have apprehended six men suspected of being involved in the murder of a security guard and the near-fatal assault of another during an attempted robbery at an agricultural cooperative in Contramaestre, Santiago de Cuba. Official sources confirmed the arrests on Wednesday.
The Ministry of the Interior (Minint) released a statement through the provincial newspaper detailing how, on the evening of Monday, August 4th, unknown individuals broke into the Fidel Domenech Rizo Basic Unit of Cooperative Production (UBPC) in Pueblo Nuevo, within the Baire area, aiming to steal sheep. During the robbery, they killed one guard and grievously injured the other with a bladed weapon, leaving him for dead. The attackers fled the scene with 13 animals and other stolen items.
Minint's security bodies launched an investigation in the early hours of Tuesday, swiftly identifying several receivers of the stolen meat and associates of the crime. The official statement emphasized that the investigation is ongoing to determine the individual involvement of those arrested. Authorities warned, "There will be no impunity for the perpetrators of such heinous criminal acts."
A Facebook post from "Héroes del Moncada," an account connected to Minint, reported that the six detained suspects are all men aged between 33 and 43 and that the incident was clarified in under 24 hours, thanks to the cooperation of local residents. "The aggressors will be judged by the courts with the severity that such a despicable crime requires," it stressed.
Additionally, it was noted that the stolen animals had already been "slaughtered at dining and recreational facilities in the municipality." The police investigation continues, focusing on whether any identified receivers of the stolen goods were involved in the crime, as they are also under investigation.
The identity of the deceased security guard was not disclosed by Minint. However, some individuals on Facebook have identified him as Ismael, with one young woman demanding, "Justice!!!!!!! for our dear neighbor Ismael."
On Wednesday, party, government, and Minint officials in Contramaestre met with the UBPC workers and Baire residents to inform them about the arrest of the six individuals linked to the crime so far. The incident has deeply shocked the local community, which demands that the law be enforced with the full severity warranted by the case.
In recent years, there has been a troubling rise in violence and crime across Cuba, notably in Santiago de Cuba, marked by numerous murders of security guards at both state and private enterprises. In 2024, the alarm was raised in this eastern province following several incidents where guards were killed at their posts by individuals intending to steal money and other valuables from the entities they were protecting.
Understanding the Spike in Violent Crimes in Santiago de Cuba
What led to the arrest of the suspects in the security guard's murder?
The suspects were apprehended thanks to a swift investigation by Minint's security bodies, which identified several receivers of the stolen meat and associates of the crime within hours of the incident.
Who were the individuals involved in this criminal act?
The six individuals detained are men between the ages of 33 and 43. Their involvement was clarified with the help of local residents and they are currently under investigation.
How has the local community reacted to this incident?
The community has been deeply shocked by the incident and is demanding that justice be served with the full severity warranted by the crime.