Authorities have apprehended two individuals in the city of Matanzas, accusing them of conspiring to set a house on fire with its occupants inside as part of a vendetta, according to a source linked to the Ministry of the Interior (Minint).
The police were able to thwart the plan prior to its execution by detaining the suspects—identified as Harold and Nivaldo—at their residences. The operation took place in the area of Salamanca Street, between Ayuntamiento and Santa Teresa, within the city's historic center, as reported by the pro-regime outlet "Con Todos La Victoria."
The men are currently in custody and are set to face charges of attempted murder. Under Cuban Penal Code, such charges can result in imprisonment ranging from six to twenty years.
The report did not disclose further details regarding the motives behind the alleged crime or the evidence that led to the arrest.
Nevertheless, the publication employed rhetorical language that downplays the violence by describing it as a random event: "a spark in a dry field" that "if not extinguished in time, becomes a wildfire that consumes everything," overlooking the structural causes that have triggered the current surge in crime and violence in Cuba. It also calls for "building peace" within neighborhoods through "small gestures that prevent anger from turning into violence."
Although the crime was averted, the method planned by the suspects—setting an inhabited house ablaze as a form of retaliation—illustrates the extreme and calculated violence that has become increasingly common in the province.
Rising Crime Rates in Matanzas and Beyond
Matanzas has seen several high-profile crimes so far in 2026. On June 12, a young man, known as Adriel "Matute," was murdered inside the Pedro Pablo Rivera Cue polyclinic in Jovellanos; his two attackers fled but were apprehended days later in Cárdenas, approximately 80 kilometers from the crime scene.
On June 14, Malany, a 17-year-old girl, died in Cárdenas after being stabbed during a confrontation with another minor. The teenager passed away in her father's arms, unable to receive medical attention due to a power outage.
In April, Marina Pino Martínez, aged 23, was killed by her ex-partner in Jagüey Grande, adding to the string of femicides that are shaking the country.
The wave of violence is not unique to Matanzas. In Granma, a man was arrested for allegedly hacking another man to death with a machete in the town of Barranca, Bayamo. Meanwhile, in Palma Soriano, Santiago de Cuba, a 26-year-old man named Jesús Alberto Martínez Fernández was also killed in a violent incident near a bar.
Recently, authorities in Guantánamo arrested 11 members of three gangs responsible for nighttime assaults in central areas, where they operated masked and armed with knives.
Escalating Crime Statistics in Cuba
The Cuban Observatory for Citizen Audit recorded 2,833 verified crimes across Cuba in 2025, marking a 115% increase compared to 2024 and a 337% rise from 2023.
Matanzas reported the highest number of thefts that year, with 503 cases, surpassing Granma, Havana, and Santiago de Cuba.
In April 2026, the non-governmental organization Cubalex documented 135 incidents of public insecurity, including 28 murders. Public safety concerns rose to the second leading cause of popular protests across the island, with 185 incidents in April compared to 85 in March.
Understanding Crime in Cuba
What charges are the Matanzas suspects facing?
The suspects are facing charges of attempted murder, which under Cuban law could result in a prison sentence ranging from six to twenty years.
How has crime evolved in Matanzas recently?
Crime in Matanzas has escalated, with several notable incidents in 2026, including murders and violent assaults. The province reported the highest number of thefts in Cuba in 2025.
What is the broader crime trend in Cuba?
Cuba has experienced a significant increase in crime, with the Cuban Observatory for Citizen Audit documenting a 115% rise in verified crimes in 2025 compared to the previous year.