At least seven individuals—five men and two women—have been sentenced in Cuba for promoting services to obtain fake migration documents and engaging in illegal activities related to human trafficking.
In the Monday evening broadcast of the National Television News, it was reported that the sentences handed down to the accused range from five to 28 years in prison for crimes including human trafficking, document forgery, and violent robbery.
The defendants were discovered after selling fake documents to leave the country to an individual with pending legal issues in exchange for a substantial sum of money, detailed the report.
Lieutenant Geovanis Ricardo Andino, the penal instructor of the case, stated that the modus operandi of the accused was through the social network Telegram, where they lured individuals interested in lucrative ventures. They then intimidated these individuals with knives and even firearms, robbing them of large sums of money. In one instance, the theft amounted to $50,000, he explained.
Andino urged Cubans to use legal channels to obtain migration documents and avoid falling into scams.
International Context and Cuba's Position
This information emerges as the XXXIII Session of the Commission on Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice is underway in Vienna, Austria, an event attended by Rosabel Gamón Verde, Cuba’s First Deputy Minister of Justice. During her speech at the forum, the official reaffirmed Cuba's commitment to combating human trafficking and stated that the island respects current international cooperation agreements.
She also highlighted the "strategic approach of the government in crime prevention" but did not address the accusations against the regime for human trafficking to serve Russia in the war against Ukraine. It is believed that between 400 and 3,000 Cubans have joined as mercenaries in Vladimir Putin's army, with the complicity of the Havana regime. Many of them through a human trafficking network linked to the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In mid-March, the Ukrainian government denounced in a press conference held in Kyiv the growing presence of Cuban soldiers in the war. "We see photographs and videos from the Russian side showing many mercenaries from Cuba," said Petró Yatsenko, the head of the press committee for the Treatment of Prisoners of War in Ukraine, at the time.
The official criticized the Cuban government for tolerating the recruitment of people from the island by Russia, despite reports that many travel under false pretenses and have died on the front lines.
Questions and Answers about Human Trafficking in Cuba
Given the serious nature of the human trafficking issue in Cuba, here are some frequently asked questions and answers to provide more clarity on the situation.
What crimes were the individuals in Cuba sentenced for?
They were sentenced for human trafficking, document forgery, and violent robbery.
How were the criminals operating?
They used the social network Telegram to lure individuals, then intimidated them with weapons and robbed them of large sums of money.
What is Cuba's stance on human trafficking as presented at the international forum?
Cuba claims to be committed to combating human trafficking and respects international cooperation agreements, according to Rosabel Gamón Verde, the First Deputy Minister of Justice.
What accusations have been made against the Cuban regime related to human trafficking?
The Cuban regime has been accused of facilitating human trafficking to supply mercenaries for the Russian army in the war against Ukraine.