This past Saturday, Cuban Customs officials confiscated cocaine hidden in the sole and within a pair of sneakers belonging to a traveler who had arrived at Havana's José Martí International Airport. This was reported by the institution's First Deputy Chief, Wiliam Pérez González, through his official account on the social media platform X.
Pérez González shared four images of the confiscation, which revealed black Nike Air Force-style sneakers with their insoles removed, two packages wrapped in black adhesive tape, and hands wearing green surgical gloves handling the evidence. One photo also featured a drug-sniffing dog from the canine unit on high alert next to the searched luggage.
"COCAINE detected hidden in the sole and inside the sneaker of a passenger arriving at Havana Airport. The DRUG was discovered through the effective use of technical means, the canine unit, and the professional and joint actions of the #AduanadeCuba and anti-drug agency," Pérez González wrote.
One of the images also displayed a label with the name Jenny Domínguez Romero and a note referencing "Doctor in Namibia / Embassy in Namibia," although the official statement did not provide additional details about the detained passenger or their origin.
This discovery comes merely four days after another significant seizure at the same airport: on July 14, customs officials intercepted more than 10 kilograms of liquid cocaine disguised in shampoo, keratin, and conditioner bottles labeled "Blow & Bliss" and "Coco," an operation also announced by Pérez González on social media.
The concealment of drugs within footwear is a globally recognized technique, involving the transformation of the substance into a solid or liquid resin integrated into the shoe's structure, making it harder to detect using conventional scanners.
So far in 2026, Cuban Customs has thwarted operations employing increasingly diverse methods: cocaine capsules ingested by passengers, drugs hidden in cereal boxes, methamphetamine in electric coffee makers and baseballs, and narcotics disguised in speakers and personal care products.
José Martí Airport accounts for 77% of drug trafficking cases detected at the country's main borders. In 2024, Cuban Customs seized a total of 1,051 kilograms of drugs nationwide.
In April 2026, new customs decrees and laws came into effect, imposing stricter penalties for drug importation as part of an official zero-tolerance policy against narcotics trafficking.
Insight into Drug Trafficking and Prevention in Cuba
How was the cocaine hidden in the traveler's shoe detected?
The cocaine was detected using a combination of technical equipment, the expertise of the canine unit, and the professional efforts of Cuban Customs and anti-drug agencies.
What measures has Cuban Customs implemented against drug trafficking?
Cuban Customs has introduced new laws with harsher penalties for drug importation, reflecting a zero-tolerance stance towards drug trafficking. They also utilize advanced detection methods and collaborate with anti-drug agencies.
What are some methods used to smuggle drugs through Cuban borders?
Drug traffickers have employed various methods, including ingesting cocaine capsules, hiding drugs in cereal boxes, methamphetamine in electric appliances, and disguising narcotics in personal care products.