The Cuban police have reportedly dismantled a network involved in the theft of liquefied gas cylinders, with the participation of employees from the provincial Gas Plant in Camagüey. A source linked to the Ministry of the Interior shared this information on Saturday.
The operation, conducted in the Garrido-Caridad district of Camagüey city, exposed a collaboration between state company workers and outside individuals who illegally extracted the so-called "balitas" during daytime hours. This was reported by the pro-government site "Truths Through Mobile" on Facebook.
The scheme involved blending the stolen cylinders with those being legally transported by vehicles, allowing the thieves to remove them unnoticed.
On Saturday, officers from the National Revolutionary Police (PNR) discovered several cylinders concealed in the brush about a kilometer from the plant, underscoring the scale of the illegal activity, according to the publication.
Authorities have not disclosed how many individuals have been apprehended, nor how many of them were employees or executives from the state entity. Additionally, the total number of cylinders stolen and the duration of the operation before its discovery remain unspecified.
"Investigations are ongoing to ascertain full accountability and bring those involved to justice," the report stated, although further details on the case were not provided.
Supervision Failures Exposed
This incident highlights significant lapses in oversight and security within the plant, which permitted employees to steal a large quantity of resources without triggering control mechanisms.
The theft of gas cylinders is not an isolated incident; such crimes have surged recently due to domestic fuel shortages, lack of vigilance, administrative corruption, and legal impunity in the country. In June 2025, a similar network was dismantled in Sancti Spíritus; another in Cienfuegos was taken down in September the same year for overloading cylinders beyond safe limits; and in May, authorities seized 25 cylinders in Placetas, Villa Clara.
Gas Shortage Fuels Black Market
The root of this crime lies in the severe scarcity of liquefied gas across the island. Over 50% of Cuba's 1.7 million liquefied gas customers were unable to purchase during distribution rounds in April 2026. This unmet demand has driven prices up in the informal market: cylinders sold for $24 through official channels are being resold for up to $50, and in some eastern and rural areas, prices in Cuban pesos can exceed 50,000 pesos.
The desperation among the populace has also led to dangerous scams. Recently, a family in Las Tunas reported paying 50,000 pesos for a cylinder that was mostly filled with water to mimic the usual weight. Filling a container meant for fuel with water is not only fraudulent but can also cause damage, leaks, or serious accidents within homes.
Understanding Cuba's Gas Crisis
Why are gas cylinder thefts increasing in Cuba?
The increase in gas cylinder thefts is largely due to severe shortages of domestic fuel, lack of proper supervision, administrative corruption, and a general climate of impunity that allows such crimes to flourish.
What are the consequences of gas shortages in Cuba?
The gas shortages have led to inflated prices on the black market, where cylinders are sold at much higher rates than officially set prices. This has also opened the door to fraudulent schemes, such as selling cylinders filled with water, posing safety risks.