Alberto Alonso Cáceres and Iniorvis Matos have been missing at sea for over two weeks after departing for a fishing trip from Playa Tasajera in Nueva Paz, Mayabeque, on June 5. The journey was expected to last just 36 hours.
Left to fend for themselves, their families have been desperately trying to locate them, incurring significant debts in the process, while the Cuban government has claimed it lacks the resources to assist.
Journalist José Manuel González Rubines brought attention to the situation on Facebook, detailing the institutional neglect faced by the families of the two fishermen, who are residents of the "El 14" neighborhood in Nueva Paz.
Families Take Action as Authorities Remain Passive
When the men failed to return by Sunday, June 7, their families immediately began organizing a search. From June 8 to June 15, they tirelessly ventured out to sea each day without finding any trace of the missing fishermen, their boat, or any clues to their whereabouts.
The entire search operation was financed and conducted by the families themselves. They had to purchase fuel on the black market at an exorbitant rate of 2,500 pesos per liter, resulting in total expenses that surpassed a million Cuban pesos, forcing them to borrow money.
"The State did nothing; everything was managed by the family with fuel bought at 2,500 pesos per liter. They've spent over a million pesos and even had to take loans," González reported.
Government's Lackluster Response
The official response was largely non-existent. The regime stated it lacked fuel, drones, or the capability to track the last known phone signal of the missing individuals. They also refused to lend a vessel for the search, even when the families offered to cover the fuel costs.
"All the authorities sent was an inspector with 20 liters of fuel. That's what the life of two citizens is worth to the Cuban state," the journalist remarked.
A Recurring Tragedy
The families have ruled out any possibility that Alberto and Iniorvis intended to leave the country. Their loved ones assert that emigration was not part of their plans, as both men have children and grandchildren anxiously awaiting news of their fate.
This case is part of a troubling pattern of maritime disappearances in Cuba, where families are often left to organize and finance search efforts due to state inaction. Similar incidents have been reported in Santiago de Cuba, Matanzas, Havana, and Mayabeque, with belated or absent government responses.
In January 2025, a teenager went missing in Havana after going fishing and was found alive days later. In April of the same year, authorities resumed the search for a child who disappeared at a beach in Matanzas, another case that fell heavily on the community.
The ongoing energy crisis in Cuba since 2023 exacerbates the problem; fuel shortages impact both citizens and state institutions, including maritime rescue services.
According to UN data from September 2024, at least 626 individuals have died or gone missing along the Cuba-U.S. maritime route since 2014, with the actual number likely higher due to "invisible shipwrecks."
"The authorities have ended a search that never began," González concluded in his public denunciation.
Key Questions on the Missing Fishermen in Cuba
What actions have the families of the missing fishermen taken?
The families have organized and financed their own search efforts, purchasing fuel on the black market and spending over a million pesos, despite the government's lack of assistance.
How has the Cuban government responded to the disappearance?
The Cuban government has claimed it lacks the resources to assist in the search, providing minimal support such as an inspector with 20 liters of fuel, and has not lent any vessels despite family offers to cover fuel costs.
Are maritime disappearances common in Cuba?
Yes, maritime disappearances are unfortunately recurrent in Cuba, with families often left to handle search efforts due to insufficient or absent government intervention.