This week, a series of anti-drug operations in the province of Holguín resulted in the arrest of 69 individuals and charges against 16 for drug trafficking, as reported by the Ministry of the Interior (Minint). State media and social media profiles highlighted that authorities took action against a total of 369 people, including arrests, charges, and warnings, during this latest campaign against drug activity in eastern Cuba.
The Facebook page "Realities from Holguín," linked to Minint, reported that out of the 69 arrested, 16 are facing drug trafficking charges, while the remaining 53 were officially warned for their inclination towards such activities. Preventive measures were applied to others involved. Additionally, inspections were conducted in 13 pharmacies across various municipalities in collaboration with the Public Health Directorate, revealing "irregularities" and resulting in penalties for 11 workers.
During the operations, authorities seized 19 packages of marijuana, "chemical" substances, and hashish, along with numerous blister packs of medications such as amitriptyline, trifluoperazine, and diphenhydramine, which are controlled due to their drug-like effects. The newspaper ¡Ahora! reported the arrests of several drug suppliers, who now face charges of drug trafficking.
In the Pueblo Nuevo area of Holguín city, police confiscated from one individual a package containing hashish, pieces of chemical paper, a digital scale, and 23,540 Cuban pesos. The report noted that the suspect brazenly concealed drugs in a baby's diaper. Further drug packages were discovered in the homes of two citizens in the Miraflores and Armando Mestre districts of Moa, while a woman was caught with five packages of marijuana in a public area.
According to reports, police also intervened against two individuals in the Sanfield district of the provincial capital, who possessed both domestically produced and imported medications, including some controlled as drugs by Resolution 25/2021, such as amitriptyline, trifluoperazine, and diphenhydramine. In Rafael Freyre municipality, the National Revolutionary Police (PNR) dismantled a home-based pharmacy operation.
¡Ahora! lamented that many of those involved in these raids were young people profiting from subjecting others to a dark underworld and emphasized society's demand for harsh punishment for such actions. "Narcotics, in all their forms, generate violence, corruption, physical and mental health deterioration, and family destruction, posing a societal scourge," stated Lieutenant Colonel Yanexis Ávalo Rojas, the chief officer of the Technical Investigative Police.
Authorities also conducted inspections at livestock farms in the municipalities of Cueto, Rafael Freyre, and Banes in search of marijuana cultivation, though the report did not specify any findings. According to "Realities from Holguín," at the air border, electronic cigarettes were confiscated from six Cuban passengers arriving from the United States. Coastal patrols in Antilla municipality identified eight potential drug salvage searchers, who were subjected to preventive measures.
Both the local newspaper and the social media profile emphasized that Customs and the Provincial Forensic Laboratory conducted canine training exercises to detect harmful substances among travelers and luggage. Yolanda Piñeiro Ramírez, deputy head of Customs in Holguín, mentioned intensified staff training for drug searches at border entry points and specialized radiology and canine units to enhance detection capabilities based on updated knowledge of drug types, effects, and trafficking methods.
The official disclosed findings of cigarettes containing substances positive for THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), gummies with narcotics, and regulated medications similar to drugs, notably tramadol. During this third exercise against drug trafficking, educational sessions were held in schools across Holguín, Rafael Freyre, Mayarí, Banes, and Sagua de Tánamo municipalities, along with a community debate in Moa involving governmental and organizational representatives.
The Cuban regime has intensified its crackdown on drug trafficking, a phenomenon exacerbated by the country's worsening economic and social crisis. Judicial bodies have tightened penalties for drug trafficking, imposing sentences of up to 30 years, life imprisonment, or even death. Additionally, confiscation of properties from those permitting the sale or consumption of narcotics in their homes, known as "consumption houses," is underway.
Key Aspects of Holguín's Anti-Drug Operations
What were the results of the anti-drug operations in Holguín?
The anti-drug operations led to 69 arrests, 16 drug trafficking charges, and official warnings for 53 individuals.
What substances were seized during the operations?
Authorities seized packages of marijuana, hashish, and medications controlled for their drug-like effects, including amitriptyline, trifluoperazine, and diphenhydramine.
How did the authorities address potential drug salvage searchers?
Authorities conducted coastal patrols in Antilla municipality, identifying eight potential salvage searchers, who underwent preventive measures.
What educational measures were taken during the operations?
Educational sessions were organized in schools across several municipalities, and a community debate was held in Moa with representatives from various institutions.