Cuban Government Conducts "Exemplary" Trial in Artemisa for Cattle Theft and Slaughter

The First Criminal Chamber of the Provincial People's Court of Artemisa has sentenced two individuals to prison terms of seven and eight years, respectively, for their involvement in the theft and illegal slaughter of cattle. The public trial, Case No. 207 of 2024, was held on September 26, 2025, where it was revealed that the accused targeted the Carranza farm area in Mariel municipality. There, they stole and slaughtered a cow intending to sell its meat for illicit profit.

The court confirmed that the defendants acted “without authorization” and aimed to “illegitimately increase their personal wealth,” according to reports from the Artemisa Vision television station. In addition to imprisonment, the court imposed further penalties, including a ban on leaving the country, confiscation of tools used in the crime, and civil liability payments for damages to the animal's owner.

The official statement emphasized that “procedural guarantees” were upheld and the “due process enshrined in the Constitution” was respected, highlighting that the sentences were based on the “social conduct and harmfulness” of the accused's actions. While the authorities frame the verdict as a demonstration of justice and legal control, the tone of the report and state coverage suggest an exemplary nature, aligning with the government's strategy to impose harsh penalties amid the rising incidents of cattle theft and slaughter in the country. This comes in the context of severe food shortages and skyrocketing prices affecting the population.

In late September, the Provincial People's Court of Mayabeque sentenced a man to 10 years in prison for robbery with violence and intimidation after he broke into a home in Güines municipality and threatened a father and son with a machete. Days earlier, four butchers in Ciego de Ávila were arrested for systematically stealing cattle from farmers in the La Palma area, operating with complete impunity.

Previously, in Sancti Spíritus, an inmate on temporary release took the opportunity to steal and slaughter a horse at his home on Bayamo street. Similarly, a young man was caught attempting to steal a cow on the grounds of the former Salvador Rosales sugar mill, known as Algodonal, in Santiago de Cuba. He was subdued by locals, tied up, and forced to walk behind a horse-drawn cart through several community streets in Songo-La Maya, exposing him publicly.

In Holguín, a man was caught on video slaughtering a horse in broad daylight, causing outrage and fear among residents due to the impunity of his actions. A few weeks later, in Granma, authorities detained a group of butchers transporting beef in private cars, dismantling a network that illegally sold meat products in the region without sanitary control or legal authorization.

In Havana, the police have also cracked down on such crimes. Law enforcement dismantled a butcher network after discovering a clandestine slaughter site operating without hygienic conditions or permits, directly impacting public health. Cuban farmers report that cattle theft and slaughter remain rampant across the island, severely affecting the agricultural economy and food security.

The Cuban public has expressed growing concern over the rise in crime in various parts of the country, particularly violent thefts, assaults, and daylight robberies. These incidents fuel the debate on public safety in Cuba, where many citizens feel increasingly vulnerable to criminal impunity, amid a backdrop of public discontent, power outages, and protests across several provinces.