Authorities have arrested and charged seven individuals following the bust of an illegal cockfighting ring near the Arcoiris campsite in Santa Clara. This operation was publicized by "Fuerza Pueblo," a Facebook page associated with the regime's security forces.
According to their report, the ring operated secretly on Wednesdays and was uncovered by police patrols, leading to the capture of the seven individuals identified as the event's organizers.
The accused are facing charges under the "Illegal Gambling" offense, as outlined in Article 251 of Cuba's Penal Code, which carries sentences ranging from one to four years of imprisonment for organizers and promoters.
The Double Standard in Cuban Cockfighting
The Santa Clara operation comes just days after a similar incident in Pinar del Río, where police dismantled another illegal ring in Herradura, Consolación del Sur, on June 22.
Both operations were shared by state security-linked profiles with a moralizing tone, sparking widespread criticism on social media about police corruption and the regime's hypocrisy.
"Double standard, they belong to the state company Flora y Fauna, which is nothing but a money-making enterprise... We can't touch them," commented one user in response to the Pinar del Río operation.
Another user was more blunt about the real motivations behind the Pinar del Río operation: "They did it because the ring owner didn't pay the head of police, didn't fulfill the contract."
State Monopoly on Cockfighting
The contradiction pointed out by Cubans has a solid basis: the regime itself legally operates cockfighting through ALCONA S.A., a company under the Flora y Fauna Business Group and linked to historical commander Guillermo García Frías.
From a farm on the outskirts of Havana, ALCONA breeds fine roosters, organizes fighting events, and exports birds abroad, while the police prosecute those who engage in the same activities without state approval.
The Animal Welfare Decree-Law 31/2021 bans inducing animal fights but includes an exception for state-authorized fights, effectively creating a state monopoly over the cockfighting business.
In November 2025, the animal rights organization BAC-Habana denounced that cockfights in Cuba are not clandestine but rather sanctioned by the regime through ALCONA S.A.
Shortly after this denunciation, the Cuban bank froze the organization's account.
Public Outcry and Skepticism
"Why don't they touch the big cockfighting promoter, Guillermo García?" asked another user on social media, echoing widespread sentiment about operations targeting ordinary citizens while the state profits from the same activity.
The "Fuerza Pueblo" page concluded its post with a warning that "the police will remain vigilant to detect illegalities and social indiscipline," a statement met with skepticism by Cubans in light of the evident contradiction between official rhetoric and the state's cockfighting business reality.
Understanding Cuba's Cockfighting Controversy
Why were the seven individuals arrested in Santa Clara?
They were arrested for organizing an illegal cockfighting ring, which constitutes "Illegal Gambling" under Cuban law.
What is the legal status of cockfighting in Cuba?
Cockfighting is banned except for state-authorized events, creating a state monopoly through ALCONA S.A.
How has the public reacted to the cockfighting operations?
The operations have been met with criticism and skepticism due to perceived hypocrisy and corruption within the regime.