In a coordinated effort, Cuba's Ministry of the Interior (MININT) has dismantled a drug trafficking network, leading to the arrest of 13 individuals in the Centro Habana municipality. The operation also included searches of six residences in the Colón and Los Sitios neighborhoods.
Among those detained, nine face criminal charges related to drug trafficking, according to sources involved in the case. While this information is preliminary, authorities suggest waiting for official reports, which have yet to be released.
Five of the six searches took place in Los Sitios, particularly along Reina Street, between Campanario and Lealtad. Images shared on social media since Wednesday showed official vehicles and law enforcement presence in the area.
Seized items include packages suspected to contain cocaine, 184 strips, two ID-sized cutouts, and a half-letter-sized sheet infused with synthetic cannabinoids, as well as mobile phones and cash in both Cuban pesos and U.S. dollars.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities anticipate more searches and arrests, potentially increasing the number of those involved in the coming hours.
Drug Activity in Centro Habana
This operation took place in one of Havana's municipalities with a significant history of drug-related activity. Centro Habana was identified in 2018 as having the highest number of drug addicts in Cuba, with Colón and Los Sitios being frequent sites for police raids.
In August 2025, two individuals were apprehended for selling "chemical" drugs on Amistad Street, between Dragones and Reina in Colón. Earlier, in April of that year, a man was arrested in Los Sitios with 20 crack rocks and nearly 176,000 Cuban pesos.
MININT's Zero Tolerance Policy
Since 2025, the MININT has ramped up anti-drug operations in Havana, adhering to a zero-tolerance policy. In September of that year, authorities reported over 1,500 arrests related to drug offenses in the capital alone, alongside the dismantling of five criminal networks.
In February 2026, a cocaine distribution point in Plaza de la Revolución was shut down, resulting in two arrests, over 100 packages seized, and 800,000 pesos confiscated.
Synthetic cannabinoids—commonly known as "chemical" or "papelito"—and cocaine are the primary substances targeted in these operations.
According to an AP report on synthetic drug use in Cuba, a dose of "chemical" costs about 250 Cuban pesos, and Cuban laboratories identified at least 46 new synthetic formulas in the past year.
The José Martí Airport is reportedly the entry point for 77% of detected drug trafficking cases at Cuban borders, with smugglers often concealing drugs in food shipments from abroad, as stated in a July 2026 report.
Understanding Drug Trafficking in Havana
What substances were seized in the recent Havana drug bust?
Authorities confiscated packages suspected to contain cocaine, 184 strips, ID-sized cutouts, and a sheet with synthetic cannabinoids. They also seized mobile phones and cash in Cuban pesos and U.S. dollars.
How has the MININT responded to drug activity in Havana?
Since 2025, the MININT has intensified anti-drug operations under a zero-tolerance policy, leading to over 1,500 arrests and the dismantling of multiple drug networks in Havana.