Nurse and Accomplice Arrested in Pinar del Río for Trafficking Stolen Medical Supplies

In a significant crackdown, Cuban authorities have apprehended Jonail Piña Plasencia, a nurse from the Emergency Services at Abel Santamaría Cuadrado Hospital in Pinar del Río. He was caught red-handed while attempting to leave the hospital premises with stolen medications and medical supplies. Alongside him, Mayisney Hidalgo Barrios, believed to be his accomplice, was also detained. Residing in the Cuba Libre neighborhood, Hidalgo Barrios is accused of illegally selling these materials on the black market.

The information, revealed through a profile linked to the Ministry of the Interior (MININT) in Pinar del Río, suggests that Piña Plasencia was diverting supplies during his shifts. Authorities confiscated a variety of essential hospital materials, including blister packs of pills, injectable ampules and vials, boxes of creams, and syringes.

“How many patients in dire need of these medications were turned away because they had already been funneled into the illegal market?” questioned the MININT publication. The illegal diversion and sale of medicines in Cuba continues to be a pressing issue, exacerbated by the ongoing shortage of pharmaceuticals across the nation.

Recently, a similar incident occurred in Holguín, where a man was detained for possessing controlled medications intended for unlawful sale. The arrest occurred during an anti-drug operation, uncovering substances like amitriptyline, trifluoperazine, and dimenhydrinate, which are regulated by the Ministry of Public Health for their drug-like effects.

Back in February, a man in Manzanillo, Granma province, who was a licensed Physical Therapist, faced arrest for storing and informally distributing a wide range of medications. Authorities discovered antibiotics, analgesics, antihistamines, syringes, and suture materials in his home. He had been promoting these pharmaceuticals via social media and selling them directly to customers.

Escalating Concerns Over Illicit Drug Sales

Documented incidents from previous years highlight the persistent nature of this issue. For instance, in August 2021, over a dozen individuals in Guantánamo were detained for their involvement in the theft and illegal sale of drugs. Confiscated items included analgesics, antibiotics like amoxicillin and azithromycin, anxiolytics, and other medicines sourced from the national network and imported from the United States and Russia. The suspects faced significant fines and prison sentences.

In the same period, healthcare personnel in Ciego de Ávila were arrested for pilfering medications intended for COVID-19 patients, later sold at exorbitant prices. Detained individuals included nurses and service staff, with confiscated drugs such as rocephin, tramadol, dipyrone, and dexatona. Provisional detention measures were enforced as investigations deepened.

Moreover, the state corporation BioCubaFarma has reported numerous theft attempts at its facilities. In 2023 alone, there were 19 attempted thefts, with five directly involving medications. To combat these illicit activities, the entity has implemented control measures, including closed-circuit cameras.

These incidents underscore the severity of the problem in Cuba, where drug scarcity has fueled a thriving black market and corruption within the healthcare sector.