The Cuban government does not release official crime statistics,McAuslan, Fiona; Norman, Matthew (1 September 2010). The Rough Guide to Cuba. Rough Guides. pp. 144–. since the Cuban Revolution, Cuba has been considered one of the safer countries in Latin America. Gun crime is virtually nonexistent, drug trafficking has been largely curtailed, and there is below-average crisis intervention from police.BDS (March 21, 2012). "Cuba 2012 Crime and Safety Report". Report Details. U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Diplomatic Security. Retrieved June 12, 2013. Murder rates are also below those of most Latin American countries, with an intentional homicide rate of 5.00/100,000 inhabitants (572 intentional homicides) in 2016, lower than any other country in the region.
Cuba's revolution led by Fidel Castro, ushered in a socialist system where the government has focused on crime prevention and addressing the root causes of crime, through focusing on poverty and inequality, and promoting social cohesion and solidarity among citizens, as well as community policing, education, and social programs."Socialism and Crime Prevention: The Cuban Experience." Social Justice: A Journal of Crime, Conflict & World Order, Vol. 21, No. 1 (Spring 1994), pp. 97-114.
At the same time, Cuba also has a high incarceration rate, second in the world only to El Salvador, and the authoritarian nature of the regime, being a one party communist state, has allowed for the strict surveillance of its citizens, raising questions about civil liberties infringements in the government's attempts to reduce crime. The government has also used the strong presence of law enforcement agencies, such as the National Revolutionary Police (PNR), to maintain social order and prevent crime."The Legal System and Research in Cuba: A Land of Opportunity and Contradictions." The British Journal of Criminology, Vol. 57, No. 4 (July 2017), pp. 961-979. The government's control over law enforcement agencies, including their structure, operations, and information dissemination, has resulted in limited availability of official crime statistics and concerns about the reliability of state-reported information. These factors make it challenging to accurately assess the crime situation in Cuba. The crisis of Cuba's economy, especially after the end of subsidized oil from Venezuela in 2026, has led to anecdotal reports of a rise in what one observer (journalist Patrick Oppman) calls "relentless petty crime".
History Cuba's history has been shaped by various political and social changes, including colonization, independence struggles, revolutions, and economic challenges. These factors have influenced the crime landscape in Cuba.
19th century During the colonial period, Cuba was a Spanish colony and experienced high levels of crime, including piracy, smuggling, and illegal slave trading."Piracy in the Caribbean." The Oxford Encyclopedia of Maritime History. Oxford University Press, 2007."Smuggling in Spanish America." Encyclopedia of Latin American History and Culture. Charles Scribner's Sons, 2008."Slavery and the Slave Trade in Spanish Cuba." Slavery and Abolition, vol. 26, no. 1, 2005, pp. 45-66.
For instance, despite Spain declaring the abolition of the slave trade in its colonies in 1811 through the Spanish Constitution of Cádiz,"Constitution of Cádiz (1812)." Encyclopedia of Latin American History and Culture. Charles Scribner's Sons, 2008. slavery persisted in Cuba for the remainder of the century. One of the main reasons for the persistence of slavery in Cuba was the island's thriving sugar industry, which heavily relied on enslaved labor.Bergad, L.W. "Cuba: Slavery and Antislavery." Encyclopedia of Slavery and Freedom. Grey House Publishing, 2006. The increasing demand for labor in the sugarcane plantations led to an increase in the illegal slave trade as well, with plantation owners and traders importing enslaved people from Africa despite it being banned. Additionally, the Spanish government in Cuba did not actively enforce the ban on slavery, and there was widespread corruption among local officials who turned a blind eye to the illegal slave trade.Klein, H.S. "Slavery in Spanish Cuba, 1763-1898." Slavery and Abolition, vol. 26, no. 1, 2005, pp. 67-84. The wealthy planters in Cuba had significant influence and power, which further hindered the enforcement of the ban on slavery.
Meanwhile, the laws, crimes, and punishments pertinent to Cuba were enumerated in the Penal Laws of the Island of Cuba, issued by Spain."Penal Laws of the Island of Cuba." In A Compilation of Spanish and American Mining Laws, Adams & Co., 1879. The penalties for crimes were subclassified as corporal penalties (including execution by the garrote upon a scaffold), correctional penalties, light penalties, penalties common to the three preceding classes, and accessory penalties. Many crimes were described in the document, under various Titles and Articles such as:
Crimes against the external security of the State (such as treason) Crimes against the constitution (such as Lèse-majesté) Crimes against public order (such as rebellion and sedition) Falsitites and falsifications (such as counterfeiting of money or documents) Violation of laws relating to interments, violation of sepulchers and offenses against the public health (such as adulterated medicines) Gambling and raffles (such as unauthorized lotteries) Offenses committed by public employees in the discharge of their office (such as bribery) Crimes against persons (such as dueling) Crimes against chastity (such as rape) Crimes against honor (such as calumny) Crimes against the civil status of persons (such as celebration of illegal marriages) Crimes against liberty and security (such as abduction of infants or abandonment of children) Crimes against property (such as robbery) Reckless negligence
Independence from Spain (1902-1959) After gaining independence from Spain in 1902, Cuba experienced political instability, corruption, and organized crime activities, particularly during the Prohibition era in the United States when Havana became a popular destination for American tourists seeking alcohol.Pérez, L.A. "Crime and Punishment in Cuba: A Historical Perspective." Cuba: Between Reform and Revolution. Oxford University Press, 2014. The political instability coupled with the influx of American tourists looking for outlets created a conducive environment for crime to thrive, with drug smuggling, prostitution, and illegal gambling becoming rampant.
Between 1902 and 1952, Cuba faced frequent changes in its government— multiple revolutions, coup attempts, and shifts in power— leading to periods of lawlessness and increased violence.González-Pérez, M.A. "Crime, Violence, and Political Instability in Cuba: A Historical Perspective." Cuba in a Global Context: International Relations, Internationalism, and Transnationalism. University Press of Florida, 2014. Economic factors also played a role in shaping crime in Cuba during this period. The country experienced economic disparities, with a small wealthy elite class and a large poor population, which led to social inequalities and poverty. Economic struggles and lack of opportunities for the marginalized populations are said to have contributed to the occurrence of property crimes, such as theft and robbery, as well as other forms of economic crimes.
At the same time, American investors and entrepreneurs, including some with ties to organized crime, established a significant presence in Cuba's hospitality industry, including the ownership of casinos. Many of these US-owned casinos in Cuba became notorious for their association with illegal activities,Bergad, L. W. (2016). Gambling and Organized Crime in Cuba. In Havana: A Subtropical Delirium (pp. 73-86). University of Georgia Press. with the mafia and other criminal gangs from the United States using it as a base for various illicit operations. For example, illegal gambling, including rigged games and illegal betting, was rampant in these US-owned casinos in Cuba.Perez, L. A. (2015). The history of Havana’s casinos and gangster connection. Casino.org. Retrieved from https://www.casino.org/blog/history-of-havanas-casinos/ Prostitution and other forms of organized crime, such as drug trafficking, also flourished in and around these establishments.Rojas, R. M. (2019). Cold War Paradise: The CIA and Cuba’s Underworld. Latin American Perspectives, 46(2), 216-231. The criminal elements involved in these activities often engaged in bribery, extortion, and other corrupt practices to maintain their operations and evade law enforcement.Corbett, B. J. (2016). Organized Crime and Illicit Drug Trafficking in Cuba: A Challenge for the Transition. In Transition to Democracy in Cuba (pp. 133-156). Springer.
By the time Cuba was under the control of dictator Fulgencio Batista between 1952 and 1959, crime and corruption were pervasive in the country."Cuba: A New History" by Richard Gott. Batista's regime only further exacerbated the problem, being frequently accused of engaging in corrupt practices, including embezzlement and bribery, which further fueled the culture of crime and corruption in Cuba during that period. There are numerous accounts and allegations of corruption, including embezzlement and bribery, against the Batista government during that period."The Cuban Revolution: Origins, Course, and Legacy" by Marifeli Pérez-Stable. Such practices are said to have contributed to the culture of crime and corruption in Cuba during Batista's rule.
Fidel Castro's regime (1959-2008) After Fidel Castro came to power in Cuba in 1959, the country underwent significant changes, including the implementation of socialist policies and the establishment of a communist government. As part of Castro's revolution, there were efforts to eliminate corruption and crime in Cuba.BBC News. (2009, April 16). Country profile: Cuba. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-19576149
The new Cuban government implemented measures to crack down on criminal activities, including illegal gambling, drug trafficking, and organized crime.Farber, D. (2011). The Evolution of Cuban Organized Crime. Latin American Politics and Society, 53(1), 53-74. Castro's government nationalized industries, including the hospitality industry, which led to the closure of many US-owned casinos and nightclubs.Cardona, J. (2019). The Nationalization of Casinos and Tourism in Cuba, 1959–1972. Caribbean Studies, 47(2), 115-138. The Cuban government also implemented social programs aimed at providing education, healthcare, and employment opportunities to the population, with the aim of addressing the underlying social and economic issues that were often associated with crime.Miller, N. P. (2013). Cuba: From economic liberation to revolution. Routledge.
Additionally, the Castro government established a strong security apparatus, including the Ministry of the Interior, which was responsible for law enforcement and maintaining social order.Kellner, D. (2009). Fidel Castro and the Revolutionary Struggle in Cuba. Latin American Perspectives, 36(3), 102-119. This included the creation of the National Revolutionary Police (Policía Nacional Revolucionaria or PNR), which played a role in combating crime and maintaining public security.Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cuba. (n.d.). The Ministry of the Interior (MININT). Retrieved from http://www.cubaminrex.cu/en/ministry-interior-minint