Amidst widespread food shortages and power outages lasting up to 30 hours daily, Cuban authorities in Guantánamo have identified a key focus: cracking down on motorcycles equipped with loud resonators, illegal street racing, and blaring music.
The initiative was publicized by the Facebook page "Guantánamo and its Truth," which serves as a mouthpiece for the Ministry of the Interior (MININT), part of a network of propaganda accounts controlled by the Cuban regime.
The announcement detailed that the operations have expanded to various municipalities within the province, including Manuel Tames, where drivers have been detained and fined for excessive noise.
According to the MININT-affiliated page, these operations included "preventive meetings" with drivers to "warn, raise awareness, and demand an end to practices that disturb public peace."
For repeat offenders, authorities have filed charges of disobedience, a criminal offense in Cuba.
Several vehicles have been impounded until their owners replace the resonators with proper silencers.
The challenge is exacerbated by the fact that only legal owners can retrieve their vehicles from impound lots, a complication if they reside abroad or outside the province, potentially prolonging the detention indefinitely.
The cost to recover an impounded vehicle is 1,000 Cuban pesos per day, a significant amount in a country where the average salary is insufficient to meet basic needs.
One highlighted case involved a vehicle that, although lacking a resonator system, exceeded permissible noise levels, which authorities deemed as "deliberate behavior against public tranquility."
Additionally, drivers without licenses were identified, and vigilance continues over illegal motorcycle races, with some participants already facing legal action.
As Cubans grapple with hunger, darkness, and an unprecedented crisis, the state apparatus allocates resources and public attention to combat the noise from motorcycles.
"Noise is also a form of violence. It is everyone's responsibility to curb it," concluded the MININT spokesperson in the post, seemingly unaware of the stark contrast.
This is not the first instance of such operations in the region.
Back in August 2025, a similar operation in Baracoa resulted in the retention of around 20 motorcycles due to unlicensed drivers, with two individuals charged with disobedience for repeated violations.
Moreover, just this past February, the National Police immobilized 181 vehicles in Santiago de Cuba, many due to modified exhaust systems with resonators.
Guantánamo's Noise Crackdown: Key Questions Answered
What are the main targets of Guantánamo's latest crackdown?
The crackdown primarily targets motorcycles with loud resonators, illegal street racing, and excessively loud music.
How does the impound process work for vehicles with noise violations?
Vehicles are impounded until the owners replace resonators with appropriate silencers. Only legal owners can reclaim their vehicles, which can be challenging if they live outside the province or abroad.
What are the financial implications for vehicle owners?
Owners face a recovery cost of 1,000 Cuban pesos per day their vehicle is held, a significant burden given the low average salary in Cuba.