In the bustling Vedado district of Havana, a brazen daylight operation unfolds, underscoring one of the starkest contradictions of Cuba’s energy crisis: while ordinary citizens endure waits of up to 15 hours to fill their tanks, those renting tourist vehicles gain access to subsidized fuel. These renters then profit by reselling the gasoline on the black market, netting between $40 and $50 daily.
The operation is as straightforward as it is shocking. Tourists renting cars from state-run agencies are allotted 20 liters of gasoline daily at CIMEX stations designated for tourism. Priced between $1.10 and $1.20 per liter, this amounts to roughly $22-24 for the total quota.
"What people do is rent a car, head to the station, get their 20 liters, and then sell it at $7 per liter. At $7 a liter, that totals $140. After covering the $80 car rental, they're making 40 or 50 dollars every day," shared a witness familiar with the scheme.
The scheme leverages the stark disparity between the subsidized tourist fuel prices and the exorbitant black market rates of 4,000 to 6,000 pesos per liter paid by the general populace. This gap turns each tourist fuel quota into a lucrative illegal business opportunity. Some Cubans have reportedly paid 18,000 Cuban pesos for just three liters, highlighting the desperation of those without access to tourist gas stations.
The Ongoing Corruption at Vedado Gas Stations
Corruption at Vedado's gas stations is no secret. Residents and drivers have reported that the same cars frequent these stations multiple times a day, exploiting either the complicity or negligence of staff responsible for monitoring quotas.
Outrage extends beyond the mechanics of the fraud to the official tolerance of such activities happening openly. "You've got a government that can't get 1 liter of gas, yet they're allowing this trafficking and smuggling right out in the open," remarked a witness. "Everyone sees it, knows it, and nothing happens."
Censorship and Institutional Silence
The silence, according to the same source, is structural: "It's censorship. Granma can't report this because it would mean calling out CIMEX and MINTUR officials as incompetent and corrupt. So, it never gets published, and no one hears about it."
Institutional corruption in CIMEX is not unprecedented. In 2020, the first vice president of CIMEX, Iset Maritza Vázquez Brizuela, was arrested for corruption-related offenses, indicating that the problem extends beyond the lower ranks.
Limited Official Response Amid Fuel Shortages
Authorities have made occasional arrests, recently detaining 16 individuals for illegal fuel sales, but these actions have not curbed the practice. The broader context is a worsening shortage following the cessation of Venezuelan shipments in December 2025, leaving Cuba without its primary hydrocarbon supplier.
Understanding Cuba's Gasoline Crisis and Black Market
How does the tourist gasoline resale scheme work?
Renters of tourist vehicles receive a daily quota of gasoline at subsidized prices, which they then resell on the black market at a much higher rate, profiting significantly in the process.
What are the consequences of this scheme for ordinary Cubans?
Ordinary Cubans face extreme fuel shortages and high black market prices, forcing them to pay exorbitant amounts for small quantities of gasoline, exacerbating their daily struggles.
Why is there no official crackdown on this illegal activity?
The inaction is partly due to censorship and the unwillingness to expose institutional corruption within CIMEX and MINTUR, which would be necessary to address the issue publicly.