An extraordinary event reportedly unfolded this Friday in Santiago de Cuba, stirring a wave of reactions on social media: a young man accused of snatching two gold chains allegedly swallowed the jewelry when surrounded by a group of individuals.
Yosmany Mayeta Labrada, a communicator, brought this case to light on his Facebook page, sharing a report and video footage that were sent to his platform.
According to this account, the incident took place near Calle 7 and Escario in the Santa Bárbara neighborhood.
The young man shown in the shared images purportedly grabbed the two chains and, once encircled by several people, decided to swallow them.
The photos and video depict a man lying on the ground, surrounded by individuals accusing him of the crime. However, these visuals alone do not provide conclusive evidence of the alleged theft or confirm that he indeed ingested the chains.
Mayeta specifically noted that he was unable to independently verify all the details, and as of that time, it was unclear whether the police had intervened or what had ultimately happened with the chains.
This unusual story sparked numerous comments, ranging from humorous to vulgar, with some suggesting punishments that we won't reproduce here.
Among the more restrained responses, some users expressed their astonishment with remarks like "My God, what madness," "just when you think you've seen it all," and "speechless."
Others joked about how the jewelry might be recovered, while several participants voiced concerns about the rising sense of insecurity in Cuba.
One user remarked, “Speechless about what’s happening here in Cuba,” while another questioned the state of mind of the thieves with, “What’s going on with the brains of these thieves?”
Another recurring criticism in such situations surfaced again: citizens often end up detaining alleged offenders before authorities step in.
“And the people are doing the police’s job,” commented one user.
Unusual scenes involving alleged thefts have frequently made rounds on social media in recent months.
In May 2025, a man was left dangling from a building in East Havana after allegedly attempting to flee a robbery using an improvised rope made from bedsheets. Firefighters had to rescue him.
Another bizarre episode occurred in August of this year when a man accused of snatching a phone from a child ended up jumping into the sea from Havana’s Malecón while being chased by several people. He was later pulled from the water and taken away by police officers.
Frequently Asked Questions About Unusual Incidents in Cuba
What happened in Santiago de Cuba with the alleged chain snatcher?
A young man accused of stealing two gold chains reportedly swallowed them when surrounded by a group of people, according to social media reports.
How did Yosmany Mayeta Labrada report the incident?
Yosmany Mayeta Labrada shared the incident on his Facebook page using a report and video sent to him, although he couldn’t independently verify all details.
Are there other recent unusual incidents in Cuba?
Yes, recent incidents include a man hanging from a building in East Havana using bedsheets and another jumping into the sea from the Malecón while fleeing after a robbery.