A police operation conducted in the Luyanó Moderno neighborhood of San Miguel del Padrón, Havana, led to the confiscation of five million pesos in cash, a revolver with ammunition, and an unspecified amount of illicit substances that tested positive in laboratory analyses, according to Facebook accounts close to the police and government officials.
This information was shared by the pages Habana Noticias and Variedades Guanabacoa, which tagged state media outlets like Granma, Cubadebate, Canal Habana, and Cubavisión Internacional in their posts. However, none of these outlets issued an official statement about the operation, nor did the MININT release an institutional report on the matter.
The images accompanying the posts depict a pink suitcase stuffed with bundles of Cuban banknotes ranging from 20 to 10,000 pesos, secured with rubber bands. Alongside the money, a black snub-nose revolver with scattered cartridges, two digital weighing scales, rolls of yellow adhesive tape, and packages of substances are visible.
“During the operation, law enforcement seized 5 million pesos in cash, a firearm, and an illicit substance that tested positive in the corresponding laboratory tests,” reported Habana Noticias.
Those apprehended are now under the custody of the appropriate authorities for the commencement of investigations and legal proceedings, according to the same sources. Details on the exact number of arrests, the type of drug seized, or its weight were not disclosed.
This operation took place just days after another large-scale operation in the same municipality resulted in 71 arrests for offenses including drug possession, carrying bladed weapons, prostitution, and illegal economic activities.
San Miguel del Padrón is identified as one of the four Havana municipalities with significant challenges related to drug trafficking and consumption, as noted by the MININT in December 2024, alongside Marianao, La Lisa, and Arroyo Naranjo. In December 2025, authorities dismantled a network in the same area attempting to distribute over a million doses of synthetic cannabinoids, resulting in 24 arrests and the seizure of more than 11 million pesos.
The national situation suggests a worsening problem. The number of drug consumption cases handled in Havana nearly doubled from 467 in 2024 to 886 in 2025, and the MININT's specialized laboratory identified 46 different synthetic cannabinoid formulas circulating. On October 30, the MININT acknowledged that drug possession and consumption now affect all Cuban provinces.
To put it in perspective, the five million pesos seized in Luyanó Moderno could equate to approximately 20,000 doses of the synthetic cannabinoid known as "el químico," which was priced at about 250 pesos per dose at the start of this year. Just days earlier, a Cuban court sentenced an individual to 15 years in prison for drug trafficking, reflecting the regime's escalating punitive measures to control a phenomenon it admits is slipping out of control.
Understanding the Drug Crisis in Havana
What was seized during the recent drug operation in Havana?
The operation resulted in the seizure of five million pesos in cash, a revolver with ammunition, and an unspecified quantity of illicit substances that tested positive in laboratory tests.
What is the significance of the five million pesos seized?
The five million pesos could potentially represent around 20,000 doses of the synthetic cannabinoid called "el químico," which was priced at approximately 250 pesos per dose.
How does this operation relate to previous drug busts in the area?
This operation follows a previous large-scale bust in the same municipality that resulted in 71 arrests, highlighting the ongoing issues with drug-related crimes in the area.