A Cuban living in Mexico, Roberto Carlos Balaguert Pérez, has ignited a fierce debate on social media by releasing a video challenging those who deny the existence of the Plan Maceta, Plan Rastrillo, and home searches conducted without the presence of a crime. His account has stirred memories among thousands of compatriots who claim to have endured these practices for decades.
The video, shared on Facebook, has amassed over 4.4 million views and more than 339,000 reactions, along with thousands of comments from Cubans recounting similar experiences inside the island.
"Folks, is it a lie that there was a Plan Maceta? Folks, is it a lie that there was a Plan Rastrillo? Folks, is it a lie that they knocked on your door? And without knowing what happened, you opened it. And they told you: 'What happened, authority?' 'No, it's a search order,'" Balaguert Pérez states with obvious irony, in response to people—among them several Mexicans, as he explains—who assure him that such things could not have happened.
The Reality of Economic Suppression
During these inspections, Balaguert Pérez describes how authorities would search homes and seize goods they deemed inconsistent with official income.
"If you had ten boxes of soda in your house, they would confiscate them. And you would say, 'But why?' 'Hoarding.' 'Where did you buy them? How did you get the ten boxes of soda?' Well, wait, you were doing business," he recounts.
According to him, any sign of prosperity could make someone a target for the authorities.
"In Cuba, anyone who prospered even a little had to keep a low profile, walk around like a nobody, because they would come after you and confiscate your belongings," he asserts.
The man argues that even purchasing a car, improving one's home, or making significant expenses could arouse suspicion regarding the source of one's money.
Legal Foundations of the Plan Maceta
The seizures, commonly known as Plan Maceta, were legally backed by Decree-Law 149, issued on May 4, 1994, which regulated the administrative confiscation of assets deemed the result of undue enrichment.
Subsequent legal analyses pointed out that the preventive measures taken by the Prosecutor's Office under this law practically left no legal recourse for those affected.
In that same year, the first 15 confiscations were carried out, valued at 3.47 million pesos, while nearly 400 cases remained under investigation.
Before this, during the 1980s, the regime had launched the operation "Pitirre en el alambre," targeting the Free Farmers Market, which led to the closure of that trading system in May 1986.
Shared Memories of Confiscation
The post quickly became a platform for numerous Cubans to recall similar episodes.
One comment recounts an incident during the Special Period: "In 1995, a prosecutor showed up at my door with two policemen and two neighborhood witnesses and took everything away."
Another user confirmed that confiscations continued decades later.
"In 2017, they confiscated my truck, my family's livelihood, just for upgrading my work tool."
A particularly impactful testimony came from a woman who claimed to have worked in state warehouses where confiscated goods ended up.
"I worked in warehouses filled with products seized from supposed 'macetas,' and many things went to waste there. The aim was to prevent people from thriving."
Another comment summarized the ordeal many families faced during those years.
"My family was a victim of the Plan Maceta. They only left the mattresses on the floor and a fan because my grandmother begged the police to leave it, as my aunt was just a child."
Enduring Practices of Economic Control
The video also highlights that numerous individuals were imprisoned for possessing dollars and remained incarcerated even after the regime decriminalized the possession of foreign currency in August 1993, amid the Special Period crisis.
For many users, these economic control practices have not disappeared over time.
In February 2026, a nationwide operation against self-employed workers and private businesses resulted in 17,000 fines, 300 business closures, and 93 seizures, while in May, the People's Supreme Court released new rulings related to the confiscation of assets.
The viral nature of the video underscores that, more than three decades after the emergence of Plan Maceta, the memories of those confiscations remain an open wound for many Cubans, who see these policies as a major barrier to private initiative and economic progress on the island.
Understanding the Impact of Plan Maceta
What were the main objectives of Plan Maceta?
Plan Maceta aimed to confiscate goods deemed acquired through illicit means, as part of a broader strategy to control economic prosperity and prevent the accumulation of wealth deemed inconsistent with official incomes.
How did Plan Maceta affect Cuban families?
Plan Maceta severely impacted Cuban families by seizing their belongings, which often included essential items and income sources, leaving many in financial distress and hindering their ability to improve their living conditions.
Are practices similar to Plan Maceta still in place in Cuba?
While the specific policies of Plan Maceta are not formally in place, economic control practices continue to exist in Cuba, as evidenced by recent operations against private businesses and self-employed workers.