A total of 78 individuals have been detained in a large-scale police operation at the Guillermón Moncada Multi-Purpose Terminal in Santiago de Cuba. According to Canal Caribe, 59 of the arrested individuals are already in provisional detention, while the remaining 19 are under other precautionary measures. They face sentences ranging from 8 to 20 years of imprisonment. All are awaiting a final verdict, stated Ángel Luis Quiñones Zapata, head of the Provincial Unit of Criminal Investigation and Operations in the province.
They are accused of diverting truckloads of rice, beans, sugar, and flour, which were supposedly destined for the basic ration book distribution, to informal markets. Cuban authorities leading the investigation claim to have "seized" 3.8 tons of imported rice, 2 tons of imported black beans, 22.6 tons of refined white sugar, and 33 tons of soybean flour. This scheme could not have been executed without the "number of people involved," highlighted Major Erik Miguel Martínez Ferrales, an operational officer with the Economic Unit of Minint.
The Cuban authorities have assessed the damages caused by just two of the five alleged crimes at 9 million Cuban pesos. These crimes include embezzlement, forgery of public documents, misappropriation, and receiving stolen goods. Additionally, the operation reportedly involved 33 cargo vehicles, 26 of which were state-owned and the rest privately owned. During the raids, a house, a Lada 2106, and four tires were confiscated, along with 479,000 pesos, 769 dollars, and 200 euros in cash.
Luis Felipe Garrido Torres, a prosecutor with the Department of Fiscal Verifications, stated that the transporters conspired with the personnel responsible for supervision and weighing, charging between 9,000 and 18,000 pesos for each ton of product reported below the established weight. For each truckload of rice sold, the accused earned between 200,000 and 300,000 pesos. The invoices were not incorporated into the accounting records, making it impossible to track the deliveries, which ultimately ended up in informal markets. There, each pound of rice was sold for 200 pesos, generating 4 million pesos for each transporter.
To prevent further diversion of goods, the Government of Santiago de Cuba decided to escort the trucks with police patrols after the alleged embezzlement was uncovered, noted Waldis González Peinado, the provincial vice governor.
Details on the Corruption Case at Santiago de Cuba Port
Here are some frequently asked questions about the corruption case at the Santiago de Cuba port, providing a deeper understanding of the situation.
What charges are the detained individuals facing?
The detained individuals are facing charges of embezzlement, forgery of public documents, misappropriation, and receiving stolen goods.
How much contraband was seized during the operation?
Authorities seized 3.8 tons of imported rice, 2 tons of imported black beans, 22.6 tons of refined white sugar, and 33 tons of soybean flour.
What measures has the government taken to prevent further diversion of goods?
The Government of Santiago de Cuba has decided to escort the trucks with police patrols to prevent further diversion of goods.