A shipment containing medications sent from Spain to Cuba took an agonizing three months to reach its destination, only to arrive in shambles. The kraft paper envelope was riddled with holes and tears, suggesting a rodent infestation in the storage facilities of Correos de Cuba.
Danna Del Carmen Arias Mayedo, who brought attention to the issue, posted her complaint on the Facebook group "Correos de Cuba" this past Saturday, sharing photos of the mangled package.
"A picture is worth a thousand words... look at the state in which it arrived after three months of languishing in filthy warehouses—a package of medications from Spain to Cuba, devoured by rats under the watch of Correos de Cuba... nothing was left... and no one takes responsibility," she wrote in her post.
The images reveal large perforations in the kraft paper, completely shredded bubble wrap, and chewed-up boxes of Frontpro antiparasitic medication.
Throughout its time in the state-run postal entity's warehouses, no one took accountability for the package's condition.
Outrage and Frustration Among Users
The post ignited a flood of similar complaints from users. "At least yours arrived, albeit gnawed by rats. Mine was stolen: three kilograms of medications. They're a hive of thieves," one user commented.
Another reported a 19-kilogram package being completely destroyed by rodents within the postal facilities.
A user who sent two packages through the state postal service with no response was emphatic: "Sending via Correos de Cuba is a scam. Better ensure delivery with someone you know traveling or through shipping agencies. It's a waste of time and money."
Yet another noted that a shipment sent from Germany via DHL reached Havana in February, only to vanish without a trace, with no updates from tracking and no explanation.
Allegations of Systematic Theft
An ex-employee, who identified himself as working with SEPSA in the surveillance camera area, described a systematic and unchecked system of theft: "I caught someone from customs stealing, filmed, he was stealing USB drives. They have such a level of impunity that they didn’t care about the cameras. There was also counterintelligence, examining correspondence in separate rooms, and they stole too."
This ex-official singled out the international mail department, "Cambio Internacional," as "the most corrupt thieves in socialist Cuba."
Postal Service Chaos Amid Fuel Crisis
This incident unfolds amid a complete breakdown of Cuba's postal service. Correos de Cuba recently blamed delays on a fuel shortage: "Delays and backlog in processes are due to the current fuel deficit," the entity stated in May 2026.
In July 2025, the institution admitted that international package delivery times averaged over 60 days.
Commenters didn’t shy away from irony. "Some might say: at least you got it, even if eaten by rats. There's nothing to be happy about. It's your money spent. Your hope to help shattered. It's a disrespect. But for repression, there are no fuel problems," one user wrote.
Another quipped sarcastically, "Now they'll say it was an American rat."
Officially, Correos de Cuba claims that thefts account for just 0.02% of total shipments, a figure starkly at odds with the vast number of citizen complaints amassed over the years.
Back in October 2021, the government itself acknowledged over 300,000 packages with delays exceeding a month, with documented cases of shipments arriving with rocks instead of their contents or simply disappearing. "At Correos, that's just normal, and nothing happens," one user summarized.
Understanding the Issues with Correos de Cuba
What caused the delay in the delivery of the package?
The delay was attributed to the inadequate conditions of Correos de Cuba's storage facilities, combined with a fuel shortage that impacted the postal service's operations.
How prevalent is theft within Correos de Cuba?
While Correos de Cuba officially reports thefts affecting only 0.02% of shipments, numerous user complaints suggest that theft and package tampering are more widespread issues.