In Santiago de Cuba, frustrated locals took matters into their own hands by capturing a horse thief, only to see him released by police just hours afterward. The incident unfolded in the early hours of Friday at a farm located in El Caney, on the outskirts of the city, an area plagued by animal thefts for several consecutive weeks.
According to a resident's account shared with independent journalist Yosmany Mayeta Labrada, the community organized a stakeout to catch the thieves red-handed. They successfully apprehended one culprit as he attempted to steal a mule, although his accomplices managed to escape.
However, to the community's dismay, the captured thief was released from custody shortly after his arrest. "He wasn't even held for four hours before being let go. What are we supposed to do? Kill the next one we catch? We won't be calling the police anymore," a distraught neighbor warned in a strong message to the reporter.
Community Frustration and Inaction of Authorities
Reports received by Mayeta Labrada reveal that over the past weeks, more than seven horses and various other animals have been stolen. The locals are growing increasingly frustrated with what they perceive as a lack of action from the authorities.
"The Party, the Government, and the Ministry of the Interior briefly detain these thieves after the community hands them over to prevent vigilante justice, yet the MININT releases them with a minimal bail or a warning letter," Mayeta Labrada criticized on his Facebook page.