An unsettling incident unfolded in Sancti Spíritus when a hooded man forcefully entered a residence near Céspedes' pastry shop and attacked one of the inhabitants with a machete. The victim, identified as Eduardo, was reported on social media by Yureibys Torresilla in the Facebook group "Aquí con el héroe en Sancti Spíritus ¡Hermanos de la Calle!".
"It's like we've reached the apocalypse," Torresilla shared. "This masked man stormed the house next to Céspedes' pastry shop and assaulted Eduardo, the man of the house, with a machete. It's terrible, just awful what we're witnessing. He was taken to the hospital in a very bad state," she continued.
Eyewitnesses confirmed that the injured man was transported in critical condition to the provincial hospital. "I was at the hospital when he arrived, in really bad shape with multiple machete wounds. The doctors immediately attended to him. It's heartbreaking, poor man," commented another user, Denaidis Castro.
Nely Hernández, another online user, echoed the sentiments of those present: "Speechless. There's so much violence and vandalism. The laws are too lenient for such acts."
Up to now, official details regarding the assailant or the current health condition of the victim remain undisclosed by authorities. It is unclear whether this was an isolated incident or if it is connected to previous disputes or robbery attempts.
Contradictions in Crime Statistics
Despite the Cuban regime's claims of decreasing crime rates, incidents like this starkly contradict their narrative. In July, during a meeting of the Crime Prevention and Combat Group, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz stated that while trends are supposedly declining, crime indicators remain high.
However, data from the Cuban Citizen Audit Observatory (OCAC) reveals a different story. Between January and June 2025, 1,319 crimes were documented, nearly five times more than in the same period of 2023 and exceeding all of 2024. This translates to an alarming average of 7.3 crimes per day, marking a historic high in the island's crime wave.
The catalog of crimes includes:
- 721 thefts, with 193 involving cattle theft and slaughter.
- 63 murders, affecting women, minors, and the elderly.
- 16 femicides.
- 99 cases of assaults and attacks, particularly in Havana, Matanzas, and Santiago de Cuba.
- 198 drug trafficking offenses, with over half occurring in Havana.
- 238 instances of vandalism, illegal possession of weapons, and smuggling.
The report highlights that 1,588 individuals participated in these crimes, with 90% of them being men. Victims include men, women, children, and the elderly, illustrating the widespread impact of violence across Cuba.
Key factors contributing to this surge in crime include access to firearms, the growth of the drug trade, and an increase in property and livestock theft, driven by food shortages and economic collapse. OCAC warns that Cuba's security crisis cannot be disentangled from the disconnect between the Ministry of Interior's priorities and the criminal reality. While police resources are focused on monitoring dissidents and suppressing protests, common crime continues unchecked.
Understanding Crime in Cuba: Key Questions
What led to the machete attack in Sancti Spíritus?
The exact motive behind the machete attack remains unclear, with no official information provided about connections to previous conflicts or robbery attempts.
How does the Cuban regime's narrative about crime rates differ from reality?
While the regime claims crime rates are decreasing, data from the Cuban Citizen Audit Observatory shows a significant increase in crimes, including thefts, murders, and drug trafficking.
What are the contributing factors to the crime surge in Cuba?
Factors such as access to firearms, narcotics trade growth, and increased property and livestock theft due to economic hardships are major contributors to the rising crime rates.