A Belgian woman arriving in Cuba with a significant donation for a children's hospital fell prey to theft shortly after leaving Havana's José Martí International Airport.
In a troubling incident on a stretch of road notorious for similar crimes, unknown individuals broke into the vehicle's trunk and stole her backpack containing personal belongings.
The incident took place on Thursday, October 15, around 9:40 PM, as reported on Facebook by Oliver De Armas, a local accommodation host in El Vedado, who was at the airport to pick up the foreign visitor.
De Armas recounted that they were traveling with a driver when they reached the CUJAE road, near the railway line, just before the turn towards Boyeros Avenue. At that moment, a pothole forced the driver to slow down.
That's when they heard a loud thud at the back of the car.
"We were robbed," wrote De Armas, detailing how the driver, with the engine still running, shouted "thieves" and exited the vehicle.
According to his account, the culprits likely used a tool resembling a crowbar to break into the trunk and access the luggage.
"The grass was taller than me on both sides of the road," De Armas described, highlighting the darkness and dense vegetation surrounding the area.
The occupants were unable to identify the assailants. Upon inspecting the back of the car, they found a suitcase outside the trunk, which they managed to retrieve before leaving the scene.
However, the thieves succeeded in taking the Belgian visitor's personal backpack. De Armas clarified that none of the occupants sustained physical injuries.
The contents and value of the stolen items were not specified, nor was it mentioned if the thieves had taken any of the donation intended for the children's hospital.
"It was very dark, without a single police officer in sight," lamented the host, who noted that they continued on to Boyeros, just a short distance from where the incident occurred.
The woman arrived in Havana with a substantial donation for a children's hospital, a charitable mission overshadowed by the theft that occurred shortly after her airport departure.
De Armas described her as a "goodwill ambassador," referring to her humanitarian efforts, although he did not specify the hospital or the materials being donated.
"It's a miracle we survived," expressed the host, concerned about what could have happened.
"I don't usually make these kinds of comments, but the robbery situation is critical," he added.
The host noted that he has traveled to various Latin American countries and is aware that such crimes occur elsewhere, but emphasized that he had never experienced anything like this in Cuba.
"My post is a warning call," he stated, hoping that sharing the incident would lead to improved security measures.
The post garnered numerous comments from people claiming to have experienced or heard of similar thefts near the CUJAE railway line.
Several accounts describe an almost identical modus operandi: thieves take advantage of vehicles slowing down to open trunks and escape with luggage into the vegetation.
One commenter recounted driving to the airport around 3 AM in a Peugeot 405 when unknown individuals managed to open the trunk, resulting in the loss of a car jack, a car starter, and various tools.
A woman shared that friends visiting from Spain also fell victim to theft while traveling by taxi. As they slowed down near the train tracks, thieves opened the rear doors, took the bags, and vanished into the darkness.
Another commenter asserted that her sister-in-law from Canada had a suitcase stolen from the trunk at the same spot, even while the car was moving.
These accounts include incidents from previous years. One woman claimed her husband was robbed in that area in 2016, and upon reaching El Conejito restaurant, found others who had just experienced a similar ordeal.
Another user described a friend's trip from the United States to visit his sick mother, during which he was stripped of his belongings and spent the night filing a police report. For the remainder of his stay, he had to wear borrowed clothes.
There were also references to a July incident earlier this year, around 4 AM. An airport taxi driver claimed that experienced drivers avoid that stretch due to thefts, and many incidents go unreported on social media.
A woman recalled witnessing, about fifteen years ago in broad daylight, people on BMX bicycles removing suitcases from a car and escaping along the railway tracks.
Regarding police presence, another driver reported seeing a patrol and several officers shining lights into the bushes near the area around 1 AM.
Reports of robberies targeting travelers near CUJAE and the Havana airport are not new. For years, incidents sharing elements with De Armas' account have been publicized: poor lighting, vegetation providing cover, and vehicles forced to slow down.
One of the more recent incidents occurred in July 2026 when a Cuban living abroad reported her mother's assault after leaving Havana airport, arriving from Germany.
According to that account, several thieves took advantage of a car stop in the Boyeros area to attempt to steal luggage. When the driver and a companion tried to retrieve the suitcase, the assailants allegedly fired at them with pellet guns.
In June 2023, private taxi driver Elvis Pablo Piñón Lora recounted narrowly escaping a robbery attempt at the CUJAE traffic light intersection with Boyeros Avenue.
The driver explained that individuals were hiding in the grass and tried to board the back of the vehicle when he had to slow down. He managed to accelerate and avoid the robbery.
Another incident was reported in February 2024 when unknown individuals threw stones at a taxi on the CUJAE road towards the airport, shattering the windshield. The attack caused no injuries but endangered the passengers.
Back in July 2022, several drivers had warned about luggage thefts on roads near the airport, especially in Boyeros, CUJAE, and the Six Roads area.
Drivers described cases where thieves managed to remove luggage from the trunk without the occupants immediately noticing.
The persistence of these reports over the years raises questions about the safety conditions of one of the routes used by tourists, Cuban residents abroad, and families picking up passengers from the country's main international airport.
Understanding the Security Challenges Near Havana Airport
What measures can travelers take to avoid theft near Havana Airport?
Travelers should avoid slowing down unnecessarily, keep their valuables secure and hidden, and consider using well-known transportation services with reliable drivers. It's also advisable to stay informed about high-risk areas and plan routes accordingly.
How common are thefts in the area surrounding the CUJAE road?
Thefts in the CUJAE road area are reportedly frequent, with numerous accounts of travelers experiencing similar incidents. The area's poor lighting and vegetation make it conducive for thefts, especially when vehicles are forced to slow down.
What has been the police response to these incidents?
While there have been reports of police presence in the area, such as patrols and officers searching the bushes, the effectiveness of these measures in preventing thefts remains questionable as incidents continue to occur frequently.