Gang violence is increasing in Cuba, leading to concerns. According to multiple sources including the British Broadcasting Corporation and St Kitts and Nevis Observer, there are rising gang activities including violence in Cuba —though it is still not widespread — leading to the deaths of many and public insecurity. It is notable that gang activities including gang violence have been on the rise for several years while 2023 was the year in which criminality began to be recognized as a problem in Cuba, which has traditionally been among the safest nations in the Americas. Given that steps are not taken to address rising gang activities including gang violence earlier, the situation may worsen in Cuba in the future.
There are drug trafficking-based, law enforcement-oriented and other reasons for the rise in gang violence. The rise of youth gangs and increased drug dealing and abuse are the main factors in rising gang violence in Cuba, which strictly controlled crimes including gang violence in the past. The situation has been worsened by quimico, a new cheap drug that is becoming increasingly popular among many Cuban youths. But poverty, a lack of economic opportunities, social inequality and food shortages have been playing vital roles as the underlying reasons for the recent rise in gang violence. Notably, economic hardships have significantly worsened in Cuba, leading many Cubans to various criminal activities as a means of survival. Among others, a lack of effective law enforcement, political unrest and corruption facilitate various sorts of gang activities including gang violence involving weapons of various types.
The government of Cuba, including its Ministry of the Interior, has taken legal and other steps to address the emerging phenomenon of violence, raising the hope of improvements in the situation. The government has been implementing stricter laws and penalties for gang-related activities including violence and the National Revolutionary Police Force has been responding with increased police presence in high-crime areas, leading to some impacts. Additionally, Cuba, a transit point for trafficking narcotics from South America to the United States, has taken initiatives to address drug trafficking. Among others, the government has focused on providing social programs and opportunities for at-risk youth to prevent them from joining gangs in the first place.
But because of various flaws in the steps, the outcomes are not as hopeful as desired in the areas in Cuba where different sorts of crimes have become more common, along with rising gang violence. There are ineffective steps in addressing drug trafficking, a lack of effective coordination between law enforcement agencies and insufficient government attention and resources allocated towards dealing with gang crime prevention and intervention efforts. Among others, steps are inadequate in addressing the underlying causes including economic concerns and there is inadequate transparency and accountability — leading to the impunity for gang members and facilitating the gangsterism in Cuba.
Rising gang violence, along with other gang crimes, needs to be addressed. For this, legal steps are vital. The emphasis needs to be given to addressing trans-border drug trafficking and production and distribution of illicit drugs including químico within the national boundary and their impacts on the youth. Emphasis also needs to be given to addressing poverty and providing economic opportunities to successfully address rising gang activities including gang violence in Cuba. But the role of non-government and private organizations, along with the government, is vital in addressing the problem.
Amir M Sayem
Chief Editor
Dhaka Opinion Magazine
