A man named Juan Antonio Gutiérrez Escalona was recently taken into custody in the Perico municipality of Matanzas province for allegedly breaking into a local facility, stealing a calf, and illegally slaughtering it.
The pro-government Facebook profile "Con Todos La Victoria" reported that the suspect took the calf from the Máximo Gómez area in Perico and slaughtered it. However, he was apprehended before he could make off with the meat.
"Recently, authorities detained Juan Antonio Gutiérrez Escalona, who dared to cut the lock of a facility and steal a calf, owned by a resident of the Máximo Gómez community in Perico. He slaughtered it behind the enclosure... but at least he didn't manage to take the meat," the post noted.
The page warns that Gutiérrez Escalona has a history of similar offenses, including damage and theft, and that he will "face another battle with the law to determine his fate, which will likely find him behind bars."
The statement ends with the usual triumphant tone of this regime's propaganda outlet: "The animal didn’t reach the table, but justice caught up with the thief," followed by the slogan "ZERO TOLERANCE against crime, illegalities, and social indiscipline!"
Rising Incidents of Cattle Theft in Matanzas
This case adds to a series of similar incidents in Matanzas. Earlier this year, two individuals were arrested in Limonar with several pounds of beef, bones, and viscera. In March, a group of seven masked horsemen attacked a cooperative in San José de los Ramos, stealing and slaughtering nine cattle in a sugarcane field.
The illegal theft and slaughter of cattle have become increasingly prevalent in Cuba, fueled by the economic and food crisis that has driven up meat prices on the black market.
The Cuban cattle population has dwindled from 3.8 million heads in 2019 to just 2.9 million by early 2025, a 24% decrease, according to official statistics.
To combat this, the regime has intensified penalties with the Penal Code in effect since April 2022, which prescribes three to eight years of imprisonment for the illegal slaughter of large livestock, with aggravating circumstances that can increase the sentence to 15 years or more.
Despite harsher penalties, farmers report that the problem remains uncontrolled. In October 2025, four butchers were arrested in Ciego de Ávila for repeatedly stealing cattle from local farmers, operating with apparent impunity.
In 2024, 1,615 individuals were sentenced in Cuba for illegal cattle slaughter and meat trafficking, with 78% receiving sentences of up to 15 years in prison, highlighting that exemplary punishments have not curbed the rise of this crime.
Understanding Cuba's Cattle Theft Crisis
What has led to the increase in cattle theft in Cuba?
The surge in cattle theft in Cuba is largely driven by the ongoing economic and food crisis, which has significantly raised meat prices on the black market.
How has the Cuban government responded to the rise in cattle-related crimes?
In response to the escalating issue, the Cuban government has implemented stricter penalties under the Penal Code since April 2022, mandating three to eight years of imprisonment for illegal cattle slaughter, with potential for longer sentences under aggravating circumstances.