The Provincial People’s Court of Santiago de Cuba sentenced two young individuals to eight and nine years of imprisonment for offenses related to illegal drugs, within the framework of oral and public trials described by the regime as “exemplary.”
Both rulings were issued in the context of the current campaign by the Cuban government against drugs, following years of limited public visibility on the issue, and were disseminated through official statements published by the Provincial Popular Court of Santiago de Cuba on its institutional website.
In the first of the cases, related to case number 40 of 2025, a 29-year-old man was sentenced to eight years in prison for cultivating the cannabis sativa plant, known as marijuana, for profit.
Facebook Capture / Provincial Popular Court of Santiago de Cuba
The arrest took place at his home, on Siboney road, kilometer 10.5, in the area of El Brujo, where a plant measuring 1.50 meters in height and a box of cigarettes containing dried leaves of the same drug were seized.
The Provincial Laboratory of Criminalistics certified a total weight of 286.7 grams of substance.
The court determined that the defendant was engaged in cultivating and possessing marijuana for distribution to consumers, behavior sanctioned by subsections a) and d) of article 235.1 of the Penal Code, the notice emphasized.
In addition to the main penalty, accessory sanctions were imposed, such as the deprivation of rights, the confiscation of the drugs, and a travel ban outside the country.
The judicial authorities stated that the process respected constitutional guarantees and due process, and both the sanctioned individual and the Prosecutor’s Office have the right to appeal.
In the second case, corresponding to case 36 of 2025, another young man, 28 years old and from Baire, was sentenced to nine years of imprisonment for trafficking marijuana and synthetic cannabinoid, known as “the chemical.”
Facebook Capture / Provincial Popular Court of Santiago de Cuba
As part of the investigative process “Consorcio,” he was arrested on July 1, 2024, while traveling by bus from Palma Soriano to Contramaestre.
During the arrest, two candy-like wrappers were found in his pocket: one containing 3.56 grams of marijuana and the other with 1.83 grams of the chemical.
The court proved that the accused was involved in distributing these substances in the Popular Councils of Baire, Maffo, and Lumumba, and that he maintained connections with individuals under surveillance for drug trafficking and cultivation.
The sentence also included the confiscation of the money obtained from the sale, the deprivation of rights, and the prohibition of leaving the country.
As in the previous case, the trial was deemed exemplary and – according to the official statement – it is assured that the procedural guarantees established in Cuban legislation were respected.
In March, it was reported that the Cuban regime has intensified show trials as a tool to harshly punish drug-related offenses.
In these processes, the goal is to publicly reprimand those involved, especially young people accused of using or trafficking substances such as marijuana or synthetic cannabinoids.
A few days later, it was reported that several Cubans were sentenced to 10 years in prison for trafficking chemicals in Sancti Spíritus.
The authorities linked them to a distribution network in urban and rural areas, highlighting the aggravating factor of selling highly toxic and addictive substances to minors.
Recently, a young woman was judged in Santiago de Cuba for transporting drugs from Jamaica. Her case garnered attention by highlighting the increasing involvement of women in the drug trafficking chain, raising alarms about the feminization of this phenomenon in contexts of economic crisis.
In April, another drug-related incident impacted community life in Santiago de Cuba, when on April 1, 2025, neighbors made desperate decisions to stop the sale of substances in their neighborhood. The growing frustration among citizens due to institutional inaction and the rise of micro-trafficking has led to attempts at popular justice and public denunciations through social media.
What are exemplary trials in Cuba?
Exemplary trials in Cuba are public judicial processes aimed at deterring the commission of crimes by demonstrating the legal consequences of illegal actions. The Cuban government uses these trials to educate the community about criminal implications, particularly in the context of drug trafficking. These trials are usually public and attended by individuals with potential criminal tendencies.
Why is the trafficking of “el químico” so concerning in Cuba?
The trafficking of “el químico” is concerning due to its widespread consumption among young Cubans, who suffer serious physical and mental consequences. This synthetic drug is extremely potent and is produced clandestinely with toxic ingredients, increasing the risk of poisoning and overdose deaths. Its low cost and rapid addiction have made it popular, leading to increased crime and social concern.
What are the penalties for drug trafficking in Cuba?
The penalties for drug trafficking in Cuba can be extremely severe, reaching up to 30 years in prison, life imprisonment, or even the death penalty, depending on the circumstances of the crime. The Cuban regime has adopted a zero-tolerance approach toward drug trafficking and conducts exemplary trials to deter these illegal activities.
What measures is the Cuban government taking against drug trafficking?
The Cuban government has intensified security operations and exemplary trials to combat drug trafficking. Authorities have promised severity in the penalties, including sentences of up to 30 years in prison. However, the effectiveness of these measures remains questionable due to the increasing number of violations and the complex issue of drug trafficking on the island.
How does drug trafficking affect Cuban society?
The drug trade, especially of “the chemical”, has generated growing concern in Cuba due to its widespread consumption among young people, who suffer severe physical and mental consequences. The lack of control and education about the dangers of these drugs has led to an increase in crime and overdose deaths, highlighting the regime’s inability to handle this public health crisis.
Two young men were sentenced in exemplary trials in Santiago for cultivating and selling marijuana and “the chemical,” amid the Cuban regime’s crackdown on drugs. Read More
