Allegations of Corruption Surface in Cienfuegos Viazul: “My Mother Was Stranded as Others Paid for Priority Boarding”

A Cuban woman residing in Mexico found herself stranded at the Cienfuegos bus terminal on Thursday, June 26, after Viazul, without any prior notice, canceled the service she had booked two weeks in advance. This incident was brought to light through a public complaint on Facebook by her daughter.

The ticket, purchased for 27 euros, was supposed to cover the route from Cienfuegos to Havana’s José Martí International Airport.

The traveler needed to catch a flight back to Mexico on the same day. Upon arrival at the scheduled time, the family was shocked to find out that the bus would not be departing, and they had received no prior warning.

Terminal staff advised them to return at 8:00 p.m., claiming that a government representative would review the cases of stranded passengers due to Viazul's failures.

According to the complainant, this was merely a cover-up for an illicit scheme: passengers were being charged 10,000 Cuban pesos to board the 11:50 p.m. bus to Havana.

“It wasn’t just a lie; it was a racket we refused to participate in,” the daughter expressed in her post.

The family declined to pay the exorbitant fee. Moments after the bus departed, they witnessed it stopping at a nearby corner, picking up more than four individuals who seemingly had reserved seats.

“As it left, the bus picked up over four people who were waiting at the corner with their seats secured, while my mother, who only came to visit family, was left with her luggage in hand and her hopes dashed,” she recounted.

The official identified as the head of the institution opted for intimidation instead of solutions, reportedly declaring, “I am the Party and the government,” leveraging his limited authority to intimidate us, as per the complainant.

Despite these challenges, the woman managed to reach José Martí Airport in time for her flight, though the post did not specify how she accomplished this.

The complaint struck a chord with readers, with several confirming the practice is widespread beyond Cienfuegos. “This extortion scheme is entrenched at all terminals, and the bosses must be paid off,” one commenter noted.

Another revealed that this has been an ongoing issue in Cienfuegos, dating back to when buses were halted due to fuel shortages, yet tickets were still sold to the highest bidder. A third commenter was blunt: “This unethical and abusive behavior is not an isolated case; it’s the standard treatment we’ve come to expect and endure.”

Many suggested filing a complaint with the Minister of Transport, Eduardo Rodríguez Dávila, described as approachable and open to citizen grievances. The minister had just completed a work visit to Cienfuegos and Villa Clara four days before the incident.

This issue arises amidst a dire crisis in Cuba’s interprovincial transport system, exacerbated by fuel shortages. Since June 18, Ómnibus Nacionales reduced its operations to thrice weekly per route, although Viazul—charging in euros and catering primarily to tourists and Cubans with foreign currency—remained operational according to the Ministry of Transport. The company increased its fares as of June 1, 2026.

Corruption in interprovincial transport terminals, with illegal fees reported in provinces like Sancti Spíritus, remains rampant and uncurbed by authorities. “Our country has turned into a mafia, where values and humanity are exchanged solely for money,” the complainant lamented.