A suspected criminal was caught red-handed trying to loot a moving truck on the Camagüey bypass, ultimately being tied to the vehicle's back by the drivers themselves. This incident, sparking intense debate on social media, has yet to be confirmed or addressed by authorities. However, circulating images and eyewitness accounts highlight a criminal phenomenon that many claim has plagued Cuba's freight transport for years.
Impromptu Justice: The "Cuban Spiderman" Incident
Photos that ignited the controversy reveal a man bound with ropes to the back of a truck container. According to various Facebook posts, the individual was caught attempting to access the cargo of the moving vehicle. The truck drivers reportedly thwarted his efforts, opting to administer their own form of justice by publicly shaming him.
La Tijera, one of the first outlets to cover the story, humorously described it as a "feat" of the road "ninjas": "In today's 'Oskuristán,' 'Spidermans' aren't climbing walls to do good but to steal on the highways," the news portal noted with irony.
Social Media Reactions Highlight Frustration
Concurrently, the Facebook group "Road Accidents in Cuba" shared the same content, including a warning message to transport operators: "Camagüey is the hub of truck assaults. They steal batteries, mirrors, oil... anything in their path. Many drivers have suffered due to these criminals, and the police claim it's self-theft. Who will bell the cat?" questioned the user sharing the images.
The post has generated hundreds of reactions and comments reflecting the frustration of both truckers and citizens alike. Some commenters, like one particular user, suggested extreme measures: "I'd leave him tied right there and parade him across Cuba with fanfare so everyone can see. In the end, since there was no theft, they fine him and let him go."
Long-standing Issue with No Official Response
Others emphasized that thefts in that area are nothing new. "They've been doing this for over 20 years between Ciego de Ávila and Camagüey. It's called the 'ninja zone.' Even the police have named them that," wrote a user who claimed to have lost goods on the same route without any response from authorities.
One driver mentioned that some truckers travel with bags of stones in the truck bed for self-defense, while a former driver warned that many avoid traveling at night through Camagüey. "If we didn't go two or three trucks together, we wouldn't make it. On the bypass, they strip you down," he asserted.
"Every time I see a cop, they're buried in their phone. They should take their phones away during work hours," a Cuban woman remarked, criticizing police inaction.
A National Phenomenon Ignored by Authorities
Despite the case's virality, there is no official statement from the National Revolutionary Police (PNR) regarding the incident. There is also no confirmation of the alleged thief's identity or what transpired after his capture and public display. What is clear is that the "ninjas" phenomenon is neither new nor exclusive to Camagüey.
Drivers from across the country recounted similar incidents in comments, citing areas like Ciego de Ávila, Mayabeque, and Havana. "About a month ago, they opened my husband's container at the Ciego roundabout. This happens every day. And when you report it, they say it was self-theft," a Cuban woman complained.
"We were in Havana to deliver goods. We stopped to ask for directions, and two people were already climbing on board. The driver got out with a machete, and they ran like their lives depended on it," another witness recounted.
Desperate Measures Amid Growing Distrust
The harshness of the comments reflects not only the frequent nature of such crimes but also the growing distrust in the judicial system and the feeling of vulnerability among drivers, who often must cover the cost of stolen goods themselves or face penalties under suspicion of self-theft. In such an environment of impunity, it's no surprise that some citizens applaud vigilante justice, viewing the tying of the alleged thief to the truck as a symbolic victory against a system perceived as failing to protect workers or punish real criminals.
The capture of the alleged thief, beyond its viral spectacle, underscores a deep social trust fracture and a security crisis that neither testimonials nor official statistics seem able to address.
Understanding the Rise of Highway Robberies in Cuba
What sparked the recent discussion on highway robberies in Cuba?
A suspected thief was caught trying to loot a moving truck in Camagüey and was tied to the back of the vehicle by the drivers, sparking a social media debate on the prevalence of such crimes.
Why are drivers resorting to taking justice into their own hands?
Drivers feel increasingly unprotected and mistrustful of the judicial system, often facing penalties themselves for thefts, leading them to resort to vigilante actions as a form of self-protection.
Has there been any official response to these incidents?
Despite the widespread attention on social media, there has been no official statement from the Cuban authorities regarding the recent incident or the broader issue of highway robberies.