In the municipality of Bartolomé Masó, Granma, two individuals have been apprehended on charges of selling a concoction of water, dye, and thickener as if it were cooking oil, according to a report shared on social media.
The report from the profile "Entérate con Aytana Alama," which is linked to State Security, revealed on Monday that the suspects repurposed original 17-liter containers, filling them with the mixture to mimic the appearance of genuine cooking oil.
The alleged scam came to light when a buyer, after purchasing one of these containers, discovered the content was adulterated and confronted the sellers.
At that moment, the suspects were reportedly trying to finalize another transaction with a different customer, who recognized the pair and claimed they had previously sold him a similar concoction using the same method.
Following the complaint, one of the sellers refunded the money for one container, and a police report was subsequently filed.
Authorities later tracked down and arrested two alleged perpetrators, who now face charges of fraud and product tampering, as noted in the publication.
The ongoing economic crisis and food shortages in Cuba create a fertile ground for unscrupulous individuals to engage in the trade and falsification of basic goods for profit, a recurring issue.
In March 2023, a Cuban woman reported purchasing a container in La Cuevita, Havana, which was supposed to contain oil but turned out to be a mixture of water and vinegar.
The woman explained that the packaging was sealed, making it impossible to detect the fraud before buying it.
A similar incident was highlighted again in 2024, involving adulterated coffee purchased from a small business in Sancti Spíritus. This case brought back memories of the La Cuevita scam, where a buyer received vinegared water instead of oil.
Additionally, in June 2025, Cuban filmmaker Enrique "Kiki" Álvarez reported a suspected fraud involving a bottle marketed as olive oil from a small business in Havana. The product was predominantly sunflower oil, with only a minor portion of olive oil, as revealed by the label analysis.
Understanding Fraudulent Practices in Cuban Markets
What led to the arrest in Granma for selling fake cooking oil?
The arrest stemmed from reports that two individuals were selling a mixture of water, dye, and thickener as cooking oil, using repurposed containers to deceive buyers.
How was the fake oil scam exposed?
The scam was uncovered when a customer noticed the adulterated content after purchasing a container and confronted the sellers, leading to police involvement.
Are there other instances of product fraud in Cuba?
Yes, there have been several cases, including incidents in La Cuevita and Sancti Spíritus, where products like oil and coffee were tampered with or misrepresented.