In Unusual Heist In Cuba, 30 Thieves Steal Tons Of Chicken To Buy Laptops, TVs
In a shocking incident, thirty individuals have been charged with the theft of 133 tons of chicken, which they subsequently sold in Cuba amidst the nation's economic crisis and food shortages. The theft occurred at a state facility in the capital city of Havana, where the thieves absconded with the meat packed in 1,660 white boxes.
Theft to purchase TVs, fridges, laptops?
According to a Cuban state TV broadcast on Friday, the proceeds from the sale were used to purchase refrigerators, laptops, televisions, and air conditioners.
The stolen chicken was originally intended for distribution to citizens through Cuba's ration book system, a cornerstone of daily life established over six decades ago following Fidel Castro's revolution.?This system offers subsidised food and remains crucial for the population's sustenance.
Rigoberto Mustelier, the director of government food distributor COPMAR, revealed that the stolen quantity equated to a month's ration of chicken for a medium-sized province at current distribution rates. The incident underscores the significant decline in accessible chicken through the ration book system due to the ongoing economic crisis, resulting in widespread shortages of food, fuel, and medicines.
Subsidised products often reach the population belatedly, exacerbating the struggle for individuals earning meager wages averaging 4,209 pesos a month (approximately $14 at the informal exchange rate).
Authorities refrained from pinpointing the exact timing of the theft but noted temperature fluctuations in the cold storage facility between midnight and 2 a.m. Surveillance footage revealed trucks transporting the stolen chicken away from the site during this timeframe.
Convicts could face up to 20 years in prison
The thirty individuals charged include shift bosses, IT workers, security guards, and outsiders not directly associated with the facility, as reported by the TV broadcast. If found guilty, the suspects could face up to 20 years in prison, according to Reuters.
While crime has increased alongside economic hardships exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic's aftermath, large-scale thefts like this one remain relatively rare occurrences on the Caribbean island. The incident underscores the severity of Cuba's economic turmoil and the lengths to which some individuals are willing to go to meet their basic needs amid widespread scarcity.
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