Holguín police arrested a Cuban for selling marijuana and hashish in that eastern Cuban city. The alleged trafficker, Leandro Santiesteban Torres, lived in the well-known neighborhood of La Quinta in the provincial capital. This was revealed by the Facebook profile “Hunter Hunted”, linked to the Ministry of the Interior (MININT). The person involved had no criminal record, he was dedicated to decorating homes with cement sculptures. However, he later changed the course of his life and started the drug trade. He sold marijuana and hashish, even to minors. He is now arrested for the crime of drug trafficking and investigations continue to discover the origin of the illegal substances.
Drug trafficking increases in Cuba
Drug trafficking through the country’s airports and coastal areas has increased compared to the previous year. The news was confirmed last July by Alexis Batista Cegrera, director of International Relations of the Ministry of Justice (MINJUS).
Just in 2022, the Border Guard Troops and their collaborators seized 3,512 kilograms of drugs as a result of 729 “recall events.” The data is higher than that recorded in 2021 when 277 events of this type were intercepted on the Cuban coast.
The main detection point for drug trafficking is the José Martí international airport in Havana. They are followed in this aspect by the air terminals of Matanzas, Holguín and Santiago de Cuba. Between the four border points they add up to 77% of the detected cases.
“Although cocaine predominates, there has also been evidence of a variety in the occupation, such as marijuana, a synthetic cannabinoid and a synthetic drug, with some cases of ecstasy. The latter was not previously detected at the border”, said the experts from the General Customs of the Republic.
Meanwhile, the Cuban News Agency (ACN) revealed that Customs forces seized 14 kilograms of drugs only during the first five months of this year. Of the total number of operations, 12 of the people who tried to enter drugs were Cuban and eight foreigners of various nationalities and origins.
