On Tuesday, authorities from the Revolutionary National Police and the Provincial Inspection Group conducted a crackdown in the central areas of Ciego de Ávila. They uncovered a deceptive tactic involving cups with hidden compartments being used to sell rice to the public, as reported by Avileña Television.
The operation took place on José María Agramonte and Joaquín de Agüero streets, where they discovered modified containers with false bottoms, designed to cheat the public. The officials imposed fines and mandated the forced sale of 400 pounds of rice to the public at the official price of 155 pesos per pound.
Images broadcasted showed ice cream containers altered with a fake bottom, reducing their actual volume—a scheme residents described as “a scam against the people.”
The news prompted hundreds of comments on social media, mostly expressing outrage and demanding more frequent inspections. “This is nothing new; they’ve been doing it for months,” one user commented. Others highlighted that similar practices occur throughout the province and that after fines, vendors “go back to their old tricks soon after.”
“Rice should be weighed on scales, not in containers,” another user insisted, while several others reported being shortchanged with missing pounds in their purchases. Some called for heftier fines or the revocation of licenses for violators, while others demanded similar operations in fairs and markets in other municipalities like Morón and Ciro Redondo.
Alongside the outrage was a sense of resignation: “People are starving, and on top of that, they’re being robbed,” one commenter observed. “We’re eating each other alive,” lamented another.
This incident comes amidst a wave of inspections and penalties across various regions of the country, as prices rise and speculation in basic goods sales increases. In Havana, authorities recently issued fines of up to 16,000 pesos in agricultural markets for exceeding price caps and selling above the allowed value.
Meanwhile, fraudulent and adulterated product sales have become a recurring issue. In Havana's La Cuevita market, scams involving fake cigarettes filled with sawdust have been reported, as well as toothpaste and soaps sealed with nylon that don’t contain the actual product.
The lack of oversight, shortages, and the growth of informal trade continue to feed a cycle of speculation and deceit, leaving citizens as the primary victims.
Understanding the Ciego de Ávila Rice Scam
What was discovered in Ciego de Ávila regarding rice sales?
Authorities found vendors using cups with hidden compartments to reduce the amount of rice sold to the public.
How did the public react to the rice sale scam?
The public expressed outrage and called for more frequent inspections, with many reporting similar scams in other areas.
What measures were taken against the vendors?
Officials imposed fines and enforced the sale of 400 pounds of rice at the official price to the public.