Huge chicken theft scandal in Cuba amid food shortages

 In a shocking turn of events, thirty individuals in Cuba were accused of committing a massive theft of 133 tons of chicken amidst a time of severe food shortage in the country. 

The stolen chicken was later sold to the public, and the proceeds from this illegal activity were used to purchase various luxury items such as phones, air conditioners, refrigerators, laptops, and televisions, as reported by Cuban state television.

The stolen chicken was supposed to be part of the government’s rationing system, started in 1959, to provide basic goods at subsidized rates to everyone.

Rigoberto Mosteller, the director of the state food distribution company, revealed that the quantity stolen equaled a month’s worth of chicken for a medium-sized region based on current distribution rates.

The ongoing economic crisis that has plagued Cuba in recent years has led to a sharp decline in the availability of essential goods such as food, fuel, and medicine.

The provision of chicken through the rationing system has notably decreased. This scenario has worsened the struggles of many Cubans, who earn a monthly average wage of a mere $14, creating an urgent need for them to seek alternative means of sustaining themselves and their families.

The chicken theft, although not exactly dated by authorities, is hinted towards occurring during the early hours of Friday local time, upon observing unusual temperature fluctuations in the cold storage facility where the stolen chickens were kept. Surveillance cameras captured the movement of trucks transporting the stolen poultry outside.

The accused individuals included shift leaders, IT workers, security guards, and outsiders. They could face up to 20 years in prison if found guilty of the crime.

Despite the recent economic challenges faced by Cuba following the COVID-19 pandemic, reports involving large-scale thefts are still uncommon on this Caribbean island.