Masked Gangs Create Fear and Unrest in Vertientes, Camagüey

In the municipality of Vertientes, located in Camagüey, residents are voicing their concerns over a surge of violence and insecurity that has gripped the area. Reports of thefts and intimidation by masked gangs have been increasing, causing alarm among locals. Social media and independent news outlets have highlighted the rising crime rate in this Cuban municipality, pointing to a lack of effective police intervention.

The local news platform, Vertientes, Camagüey, has documented multiple recent incidents where armed criminals with covered faces broke into homes to steal motorcycles, cash, and other possessions. One particularly tragic event in early February involved a woman being fatally shot, a crime that remains unsolved as the perpetrator continues to evade capture.

Another incident occurred in the Los Chinos neighborhood near the Panama sugar mill. Two hooded men entered a home at night, threatening the homeowner with a knife to her throat while demanding the keys to her electric motorcycle. This account was reported by journalist Luis Enrique Perdomo Silva last week. The assailants warned the woman that if she spoke out, they would kill her and her child, prompting her to comply and hand over the keys before they left without haste.

A member of the Facebook group "Vertientinos por el Mundo" anonymously expressed the growing sentiment of fear, stating, "The insecurity is overwhelming. From being a peaceful town to an unsafe one. What are we talking about, security? Give me a break."

In yet another incident, a young woman living near the Military Committee was assaulted at home by several masked individuals. They threatened her and stole her electric motorcycle. Meanwhile, a man known as "Goyito" had 300,000 pesos stolen from his farm on the road to the rural community of El Chorro, with witnesses noting that the criminals also had their faces concealed.

Perhaps the most shocking case was the murder of 54-year-old Cristina Guerra on February 3rd in her San Antonio neighborhood home. Her killer, a masked individual, remains at large due to what many see as an ineffective response by the National Revolutionary Police (PNR).

Despite public criticism, the Cuban regime continues to promote the work of the so-called "blue heroes" on social media, highlighting arrests of individuals involved in various crimes. However, these reports only scratch the surface of the rampant criminal activity occurring throughout the country, particularly in Vertientes.

According to a journalist from an alternative news site, police actions often include closing cockfighting pits, harassing farmers, issuing fines, and confiscating goods and beef. Yet, the state-controlled radio and online propagandists avoid mentioning the incidents reported by independent outlets.

Another member of the "Revolico Vertientes 2025" group expressed frustration, stating, "People need to stand up, how much longer will the thefts and petty crimes continue? They're tearing families apart. They don't care about killing or being killed. Most of them are young and capable of working. How much longer will this shamelessness go on?"

Initially denying the rise in crime, attributing it to social media exaggeration, the Cuban government has been forced to acknowledge an increase in criminal activity, albeit claiming it is "tending to decrease." However, the reality on the ground is starkly different from the official narrative. More and more citizens are speaking out about their vulnerability due to inadequate policing. Murders, robberies, and assaults, often in broad daylight, are commonplace, undermining the long-touted safety that the government once claimed.