A 78-year-old man, who worked as a security guard at El Tranque café, was discovered dead in the early hours of Saturday, May 16, in Yaguajay, Sancti Spíritus. Authorities quickly labeled the incident a homicide occurring during a robbery at the café.
According to Radio Sancti Spíritus, the victim suffered a severe blow to the head and was found bound at the feet, hands, and neck with a blanket and adhesive tape. Lieutenant Colonel Rolando Rodríguez Carmenate, head of the Provincial Criminal Investigation Department, explained that the man was ultimately killed through combined actions that resulted in mechanical asphyxiation.
Multidisciplinary teams from the Ministry of the Interior (MININT) processed the crime scene and collected evidence.
Details of the Robbery
Initial investigations revealed the method of entry into the establishment. "The alleged perpetrators entered through a side window after removing several slats from the shutter and stole various items," stated Rodríguez Carmenate.
The stolen goods included approximately 20 bottles of premium rum, various types of cigarettes, tobacco, two music systems, cash from the register, several confectioneries, and a model 20 bicycle belonging to the victim.
The motive for the crime, according to the investigation, was financial gain.
Just hours after the discovery, the two music systems were recovered and identified by the café owner as the ones taken from the premises.
Arrests and Ongoing Investigation
Subsequent searches in a nearby town led to the recovery of additional items related to the case.
Four individuals are currently detained in connection with the murder. "Two of them are inmates from Las Mulas prison in Jatibonico, on a temporary home leave; one is a resident of Havana who was invited by another to spend some days in Yaguajay. According to the investigation, one of the suspects confessed and implicated the others," the MININT officer added.
The suspects transported some of the stolen goods to the city of Sancti Spíritus, where they were hidden in a friend's house, who has also been arrested.
The fact that two detainees were on temporary leave from Las Mulas prison raises questions about the Cuban penitentiary system and its leave policies, while the involvement of a Havana resident suggests a premeditated operation with interprovincial movement.
Not an Isolated Incident
This crime is not an isolated occurrence. In recent months, several security guards have been murdered in Cuba during robberies of the establishments they were protecting, particularly in Santiago de Cuba. In August 2025, six men were arrested for the murder of a security guard at an agricultural cooperative in Baire, Contramaestre. In September 2025, the MININT of Sancti Spíritus confirmed two murders in the province, both involving knives.
The Cuban Citizens Audit Observatory documented 1,319 crimes between January and June 2025, with an average of 7.3 criminal incidents daily and 63 murders in that half-year, highlighting the ongoing decline of public safety on the island.
"All the suspects have criminal records and poor social conduct and are facing prosecution for murder. The Public Prosecutor's Office is currently evaluating a request for temporary detention," concluded Lieutenant Colonel Rodríguez Carmenate.
Understanding Crime and Safety in Cuba
What was the motive behind the robbery at El Tranque café?
The investigation determined that the motive for the crime was financial gain.
How did the suspects enter the café?
The suspects reportedly entered the café by removing slats from a side window shutter.
Were there any recent similar incidents in Cuba?
Yes, there have been several similar incidents in recent months, particularly in Santiago de Cuba, involving the murder of security guards during robberies.