A shocking crime has deeply affected the community of Paso Quemado in Los Palacios, Pinar del Río. Nelson Robaina Campos, aged 58, was brutally murdered last Sunday, according to sources close to the victim. Known affectionately as “Huevo” by those who knew him, Robaina was killed and decapitated while on duty at a tobacco farm, with his electric bicycle and cell phone stolen, as reported on social media.
Described as a noble and well-loved man, friends and acquaintances expressed their condolences to his family. Nélida Rubiera Mesa, a close associate of Robaina, shared her grief over his tragic death. She remarked, “Sometimes life delivers such harsh blows that leave us in shock for a long time. Losing a loved one is incredibly painful. There are no words to ease the pain my foster siblings Lázaro Robaina, Anel Robaina, and their family feel. His loss deeply saddens me.”
She further expressed on her Facebook profile, “Nelson was a great human being and a friend to my family. We share the sorrow of my siblings and trust in God that justice will prevail. Rest in peace, Nelson.”
Despite the severity of the crime, the state-controlled press has not covered the incident. However, local officials’ Facebook profiles, including that of José Ramón Cabrera Miranda, President of the Municipal Assembly of People’s Power in Los Palacios, revealed on Tuesday that the Ministry of the Interior (Minint) forces apprehended the alleged murderer within "less than 36 hours". The suspect, identified only by the nickname “Chequera” from the Paso Real area, was shown in a photo accompanying the announcement, though further details about the individual or the crime remain undisclosed.
This tragic incident adds to the grief of another Cuban family amidst the rising wave of crime and violence that has gripped Cuba in recent years, amid an ongoing economic and social crisis. The increase in criminal activity has left the population on edge, even as officials continue to claim a decrease in crime rates.
In a statement to the British broadcaster BBC, Maricela Sosa Ravelo, Vice President of the Cuban Supreme Court, asserted in September that social media exaggerates the security issues in the country, attributing it to defamatory campaigns from the United States. Nevertheless, robberies, assaults, murders, and other crimes have become common occurrences in Cuba.
Recently, Aliesky Martínez Ferrer was apprehended for the murder of his five-year-old son and the sexual assault of a pregnant woman in her eighth month, in the municipality of Minas, Camagüey. Additionally, at the end of November, a family was murdered in their home in San Luis, Santiago de Cuba, with their house set ablaze to simulate a fire accident. In Santiago de Cuba, authorities recently captured the suspect responsible for the killings of two security guards and the assault on a third, who survived the attack.
Understanding Crime and Violence in Cuba
What happened to Nelson Robaina Campos?
Nelson Robaina Campos was tragically murdered and decapitated while guarding a tobacco farm in Pinar del Río. His electric bicycle and cell phone were stolen during the crime.
Who is accused of Nelson Robaina's murder?
A suspect known by the alias “Chequera” from the Paso Real area was captured by the Ministry of the Interior forces within "less than 36 hours" of the crime.
How has the crime wave impacted Cuba?
The increase in crime and violence has left the Cuban population anxious despite official claims of decreasing crime rates. Social media has played a role in highlighting these issues.