A resident of Guanajay, a municipality in Artemisa province, has brought attention to an unsettling incident through a Facebook video. According to his account, state inspectors slapped him with fines exceeding 10,000 pesos simply for offering his goods at prices below those of the local market.
The individual recounted that the previous month he was already fined 5,000 pesos for this same infraction. "Last month, for the same reason, I was penalized 5,000 pesos for pricing below the town's rates," he shared, visibly frustrated.
A mere 15 days later, a different inspector imposed another 5,000-peso fine for the exact same reason. "Fifteen days later, another inspector hit me with another 5,000-peso fine. Where is this going to end? Someone needs to stop this. I don't know who can," he exclaimed in the video.
What makes this situation particularly striking is that the violation wasn't for selling at high prices—a common target of the Cuban regime—but for selling too cheaply, highlighting the arbitrary enforcement of price control regulations on the island.
In the same footage, other voices can be heard mentioning 1,000-peso fines, suggesting a broader inspection operation in the area. "It's a disrespect, man," the whistleblower can be heard saying.
Wider Pattern of Arbitrary Fines
This incident is part of a national pattern that's been escalating since 2025. In December 2024, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero announced that from January 2025, inspectors’ pay would be "performance-based," determined by the number and amount of fines issued, with base salaries ranging from 5,810 to 7,830 pesos per month.
This perverse incentive has led to reports of arbitrary fines even when no actual violation has occurred. One complaint from April 2026 revealed that inspectors admitted to fining businesses without any wrongdoing because "they are expected to deliver results."
Legal Framework and Sanctions
The legal framework backing these penalties is Decree 30/2021, which dictates penalties for breaching price policies with fines ranging from 2,500 to 15,000 pesos. Decree-Law 91/2024 further intensified penalties for self-employed workers, cooperatives, and small businesses, with fines reaching up to 72,000 pesos.
Similar instances have surged recently. In April 2026, a vendor in Central Havana was fined 46,000 pesos in one day. An 81-year-old man in Holguín received a 21,000-peso fine for selling matchboxes without a license, despite applying for one over a year earlier without any response. In Granma, fines reached up to 72,000 pesos for sellers of cut-up chicken in November 2025.
In 2024, according to official figures, 606,303 inspections led to 371,333 fines totaling over 980 million pesos nationwide. In just the third week of February 2026, 17,000 fines amounting to 65 million pesos were recorded across the country.
Understanding Cuba's Price Control Challenges
Why are Cubans being fined for selling at lower prices?
Cubans are being fined for selling at lower prices due to the enforcement of strict price control regulations by the government. These measures are meant to maintain local market stability, although they often result in arbitrary penalties.
What legal framework allows for these fines?
The fines are based on Decree 30/2021, which governs breaches of price policies, and Decree-Law 91/2024, which has increased penalties for various business entities, allowing fines to reach up to 72,000 pesos.
How do inspectors benefit from issuing fines?
Inspectors benefit from issuing fines as their salaries are performance-based, calculated by the number and amount of fines they impose, thus encouraging a high volume of penalties.