Cuban Customs Detects Passenger Swallowing 25 Drug Capsules at Havana Airport

Cuban customs announced Sunday that a passenger was intercepted at José Martí International Airport in Havana after traveling on a flight from Panama and, according to a separate report, from the United States. The traveler had ingested 25 drug‑filled capsules in an attempt to smuggle them into the country. Officials said the capsules were detected through X‑ray screening and warned that such methods pose serious health risks.

The Customs Service reiterated Cuba’s zero‑tolerance policy on drug trafficking, noting that the seizure underscores the intent to use varied smuggling techniques. The agency highlighted previous interceptions, including electronic cigarettes containing marijuana extracts, and cited 2025 statistics of 507 kg of cocaine seized and 174 arrests. Cuban law prescribes penalties ranging from four to thirty years in prison, with harsher sentences for aggravated cases.