MININT Conducts Inspections to Uncover Dielectric Oil in Private Cars; 18 Vehicles Confiscated

The Cuban Ministry of the Interior (MININT) is stepping up efforts to detect illicit mixtures of dielectric oil in vehicle fuel tanks. Lieutenant Colonel Carlos Martínez González, the deputy head of the State Security Instruction Department, has confirmed that scientific inspections are being carried out at highway checkpoints to identify vehicles containing this unauthorized substance.

These revelations were shared during the "Hacemos Cuba" program on Cubavisión.

Highway Inspections Yield Results

Lieutenant Colonel Martínez stated, "We have implemented a series of measures to identify vehicles with dielectric oil mixed in their fuel tanks." While he refrained from specifying the location of the operations due to ongoing investigations, he reported that 105 vehicles have been inspected so far, with 21 testing positive for the illicit mixture. "We have seized 18 vehicles in that province," he confirmed.

Private Transporters at the Center of the Controversy

According to the lieutenant colonel, private transport operators are the primary culprits in this illegal activity. However, he emphasized that this is not a blanket statement for all transporters. The technical and forensic tests conducted are described as "irrefutable" and are backed by scientific validation.

Legal Backing for Vehicle Seizures

Moraima Velázquez Romero, head of the Penal Process Department at the Attorney General's Office, supported the legal foundation for vehicle confiscation as a supplementary penalty in criminal proceedings. Similarly, Iliana Gómez Guerra, who presides over the State Security Crimes Chamber at the Supreme People's Court, emphasized that forensic reports are critical in substantiating criminal activities.

Dielectric Oil Theft Intensifies Energy Crisis

The theft of dielectric oil is exacerbating Cuba's energy crisis, affecting 97 municipalities across all provinces, with complaints rising from the previous year. This oil is crucial for insulating and cooling transformers; its removal leads to equipment failure and worsens power outages. On the black market, dielectric oil is sold as a diesel substitute, capable of functioning as fuel when mixed appropriately.

Lieutenant Colonel Martínez cited specific incidents, such as the theft of around 1,000 liters of oil in Jagüey Grande, Matanzas, which left a citrus farming community without electricity for over a month. In Calimete, Matanzas, nine recorded criminal acts between March and early May affected 23 transformers, involving 12 suspects, with 10 in provisional detention.

Recent events have seen nine transformers hit in Havana, including two in Arroyo Naranjo that supply water to Paso Seco, impacting areas like Calabazar and the Berenguer neighborhood.

Tragically, the illegal activity has claimed lives; two individuals, aged 40 and 31, were electrocuted while attempting to steal dielectric oil in Santiago de Cuba.

Legal Framework and Penalties

The current legal framework, as established by Opinion 475 of the Supreme People's Court from May 2025, categorizes these acts as sabotage. Penalties range from 7 to 15 years for basic offenses and can escalate to 10-30 years, life imprisonment, or even the death penalty for aggravated cases.

Magistrate Gómez Guerra noted that, so far in 2026, most sentences have ranged from 9 to 20 years, with 87% of defendants in provisional custody. Between 2025 and the first half of this year, the Attorney General's Office launched over 460 criminal investigations related to offenses against the National Electric System.