Frustration Grows Among Cuban Americans Over Cars Stalled at Miami Port

Feelings of despair and anger are on the rise among numerous Cuban Americans who have invested thousands of dollars to send vehicles to Cuba, only to find them stuck at Miami's river port. These cars are accruing daily fees and risk being sold at a public auction, adding to the owners' distress.

"How can you auction off my car? It is registered under my name and is completely legal," expressed one of the affected individuals in a conversation with Univision journalist Javier Díaz.

Another Cuban in a similar predicament emphasized, "We are victims of this situation. We can't afford to pay for the cars all over again."

For weeks, a group of Cubans has been voicing issues regarding delays and complications with vehicles purchased in the United States and shipped to the island by sea.

The Companies Involved and Their Role

The dilemma involves three companies, with the Miami port charging $120 per day for approximately 130 vehicles caught in a state of uncertainty, lacking a final destination.

"We used an agency called Lucero to send the cars. Lucero acted as a middleman, passing the vehicles to another agency, which then delivered them to the port," explained one of the affected parties.

The companies implicated are Lucero Services Corp, OK's Charter Services Inc., and OK Import and Export Corp, impacting at least 131 families, as reported by one of those affected.

Financial and Legal Implications

The port is collecting a daily storage fee of $120 per vehicle, with some accrued fees reaching over $11,000. To retrieve their cars, owners must pay these storage fees—sometimes as much as $5,500 extra—or face forfeiting their vehicles.

Lucero Services has refunded the shipping costs to some clients via checks, but not the vehicle's value or additional incurred expenses. "For instance, I lost my car, which cost $15,000, plus $6,000 for shipping and $1,500 for towing since I live in Nebraska," lamented one of those impacted.

Migratory and Legal Dimensions

Adding a migratory angle, Javier Díaz revealed that some buyers are Cubans facing deportation or holding I-220A documents. Fearing expulsion from the U.S., they sent their cars to Cuba, hoping not to return empty-handed. These individuals now find themselves doubly victimized—caught in both migratory uncertainty and agency fraud.

These incidents have drawn the attention of Tax Collector Daniel Fernández, who is investigating several agencies and promising action. Miami-Dade County Tax Collector Dariel Fernández is probing the companies for potential fraudulent practices, contract breaches, and export regulation violations. Since late 2025, his office has already revoked licenses from businesses engaged in illegal trade with Cuba.

Community Response and Ongoing Investigations

"We are working both locally and at the state level to find ways to assist these people, some of whom are being asked to pay up to $5,000 after already spending $7,500 to ship their vehicles to Havana," Fernández explained.

"This is unjust, and it cannot be allowed. We are committed to ensuring that no resident in Miami-Dade County is defrauded," he added.

Dozens of Cubans protested in front of the port on April 25, demanding the return of their vehicles. During this time, Yaumara Morales Blanco, a representative of Lucero Services, admitted to the protesters that the issue was undergoing legal proceedings with OK Charter.

The situation further deteriorated when Cuba halted the import of internal combustion vehicles in February, leaving the cars without a final destination even if they had been shipped.