Brazen Horse-Drawn Carriage Theft in Santiago de Cuba Leaves Young Drivers Shaken

An unusual crime took place in José Martí District, Santiago de Cuba, where two young drivers were violently robbed of their horse-drawn carriage and the horse itself, as reported by independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada. According to an eyewitness, the incident occurred at the district's roundabout, which was shrouded in darkness despite the rare presence of electricity at that time.

The assailants attacked the two youths, one about 15 years old and the other slightly older, before fleeing with the carriage and horse toward the area connecting to Micro 7. Although the victims managed to escape and recover a backpack containing their earnings, they were unable to prevent the theft.

This event sparked a wave of outrage and concern on social media. An elderly woman expressed her sorrow, fearing that "the poor animal has likely already been sold for meat." A kitchen assistant drew parallels between Cuba's current situation and the violence in El Salvador before Nayib Bukele became president, pondering, "How long will this continue? How many more people need to suffer assaults before we see a resolution to this ongoing crisis?"

A university student warned of an approaching time when "no one will be able to go outside, day or night, as the streets will belong to the untouchable criminals roaming freely." Meanwhile, from Miami, a Cuban emigrant was relieved that the young men were unharmed but speculated that the carriage had likely been repainted and sold, cautioning that the theft might lead to "settling of scores."

Others criticized the authorities' inaction, asserting that "a million things are happening, and it's as if they are accepted as normal." A local resident encapsulated the widespread sentiment: "This rampant crime we see daily keeps growing. Criminals don't want to work and live off the hard work of others."