Cuban Man's Arrest Over Spray Sparks Four-Day Family Search

In Santiago de Cuba, a family spent four agonizing days searching for a 32-year-old man, unaware that he was reportedly detained at a police station. Their desperate search spanned hospitals and police facilities, yielding no answers until they discovered on Tuesday that his arrest was linked to a spray, the purpose of which remains mired in conflicting accounts.

Independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada reported on Tuesday that Daiver Méndez Galiano, who had been missing since Friday, was found at La Motorizada police station in Santiago de Cuba. A family member claimed that authorities failed to notify them of his arrest or provide any information about his whereabouts when inquiries were made.

The family lost contact with Daiver early Friday morning after he exited a vehicle at Antonio Maceo Plaza. He had departed from Micro 9 and was en route to his home in the city center but never arrived. Attempts to reach him by phone were unsuccessful, as his phone was turned off. With growing concern over his absence, they started searching hospitals and police stations.

On Monday, Mayeta issued a public alert detailing the family's efforts to find Daiver, which included visits to Provincial and Clínico Quirúrgico hospitals and police stations, all without success. They also sought public assistance in locating him.

The search concluded on Tuesday when the family learned of his police custody. However, the discovery raised new questions about the arrest's circumstances and the lack of information during the preceding days. According to a family member's initial account to the journalist, Daiver was detained by a patrol for carrying a pepper spray, allegedly for self-defense.

The family further alleged that officers confiscated his phone and did not notify them of his detention. Despite inquiries made at Micro 9 and through a known police contact, Daiver's name did not appear in the system records checked.

Soon after, the case took another turn. In an update, Mayeta revealed that after meeting with the family, police provided a different explanation regarding the spray. They claimed it was not pepper spray but paint, suggesting it could be used for making anti-government signs. This reasoning was reportedly why he remained in custody.

Mayeta challenged this interpretation, noting that Daiver is a self-employed worker specializing in making beds and mattresses, for which he uses spray paint. In his latest update, Mayeta mentioned that the family was attempting to secure Daiver's release on bail, but there was no confirmation of his release at that time.

This lack of information is particularly concerning given Cuban law mandates that detainees must be informed of their arrest reasons and allowed to communicate with a relative or another person within the first 24 hours, as per Article 347 of Law 143 regarding criminal procedure.

If it's confirmed that Daiver remained in custody for four days without being able to contact his family, it would raise serious questions about adherence to these legal guarantees. The challenges in obtaining responses from the police during searches for missing persons have been previously reported in Cuba.

In January 2024, the family of young Adriel Ruiz Benítez reported that authorities advised them to wait despite weeks without news of his whereabouts and receiving conflicting information during their search.