The Cuban actress Amarilys Núñez took to social media on Wednesday to denounce that her sister was a victim of theft at the customs of the Varadero International Airport. According to Núñez, customs officials "confiscated" ham and sausages she was sending to her mother.
"This is not the first time I've sent these items to Cuba. I know perfectly well that it is not a violation and that I'm not breaking any laws. All items were vacuum-sealed," affirmed the popular actress, who resides in Miami. Núñez emphasized that she was fully aware of her right to send such food items to her mother, having done so on previous occasions without issues.
Núñez recounted that her sister arrived at Varadero airport on Tuesday night and was subjected to a theft. "Everything that my hard work bought for my mother was taken," the visibly angry actress said.
Last week, during a visit to Canada to see her eldest niece and her family, Núñez took the opportunity to buy ham and sausages for her mother, products that her mother prefers. The customs officials at Varadero airport justified the confiscation by claiming that, since the items were purchased in a Montreal supermarket, they did not bear the distinctive Canadian maple leaf seal.
"The rule in Cuba is to steal, to exercise the little power that customs officials have to rob hard-working, honest people," Núñez remarked. Furthermore, she criticized the lack of law and order in Cuba, stating that people have lost their sense of honesty, morality, justice, and values. "It's a national shame, a pain in the heart of every Cuban who feels ashamed of being one today," she added.
Núñez expressed her deep frustration, lamenting that she wasn't the one to arrive at the airport that night. She believes that had she been there, she might be in jail right now.
Finally, she pointed out the culprit: "Who has managed to turn an honest people into scum?"
Núñez's indignation is justified by the fact that, since 2023, the Cuban regime allowed travelers to import more animal-origin food as a temporary measure to address the ongoing shortages that persist in the country. Amid a severe economic crisis characterized by rampant inflation, high prices, scarcity, and devalued wages, Cuban authorities expanded the range of food products that can be brought into the country by travelers.
Temporary Measures for Food Imports in Cuba
As part of these measures, the Cuban regime agreed to temporarily permit the importation of canned meat products (both bovine and porcine) from countries like France, Spain, Portugal, the United States, Canada, Mexico, Panama, Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Colombia, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay. They also allowed the importation of canned poultry products from Spain, France, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Brazil, and Uruguay.
Since 2022, the regime has authorized the importation of vacuum-sealed fresh meats and other food products to mitigate the severe economic crisis, characterized by rampant inflation, high prices, scarcity, and devalued wages.
Understanding Customs Regulations in Cuba
Given the recent incident involving Amarilys Núñez, it’s important to understand the current customs regulations in Cuba. Below are some frequently asked questions and answers to help clarify the situation.
What items are allowed to be imported into Cuba?
Cuban authorities have expanded the list of food products that can be imported, including canned meats and vacuum-sealed fresh meats from various countries. However, items must often meet specific labeling requirements.
Why were Amarilys Núñez's items confiscated at customs?
Customs officials claimed the confiscation was due to the items not having the distinctive Canadian maple leaf seal, despite being legally permitted for importation.
Has Cuba made any recent changes to its food import regulations?
Yes, since 2022 and 2023, the Cuban regime has temporarily allowed the importation of more animal-origin food products to address the ongoing food shortages in the country.