The chicken would have been distributed to citizens under the communist-run island's ration book system, which provides subsidised food and is an integral part of daily Cuban life. But it's thought thieves sold the chicken - to buy laptops and TVs.
Thirty people have been charged after stealing 133 tonnes of chicken and selling it on in Cuba amid economic turmoil and food shortages in the country.
Thieves took the poultry stored in 1,660 boxes from a state facility in the capital Havana and used the money from the sales to buy products including refrigerators, TVs, air conditioners, and laptops.
The chicken would have been distributed to citizens under the communist-run island’s ration book system - introduced more than 60 years ago after Fidel Castro’s revolution - which provides subsidised food and is an integral part of daily Cuban life.
The amount stolen was equivalent to a month’s ration of chicken for a medium-sized province at the current distribution rates, an official for government food distributor COPMAR said.
Cuba imports most of the food and fuel it consumes, but revenues have plunged following COVID, worsened by strict US sanctions and stagnant tourism, which was once a mainstay of the nation’s economy.
The government continues to ration a basic basket of goods including rice, beans, sugar, and proteins, such as pork, chicken, beef and fish.
The original article contains 294 words, the summary contains 183 words. Saved 38%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!
This is the best summary I could come up with:
Thirty people have been charged after stealing 133 tonnes of chicken and selling it on in Cuba amid economic turmoil and food shortages in the country.
Thieves took the poultry stored in 1,660 boxes from a state facility in the capital Havana and used the money from the sales to buy products including refrigerators, TVs, air conditioners, and laptops.
The chicken would have been distributed to citizens under the communist-run island’s ration book system - introduced more than 60 years ago after Fidel Castro’s revolution - which provides subsidised food and is an integral part of daily Cuban life.
The amount stolen was equivalent to a month’s ration of chicken for a medium-sized province at the current distribution rates, an official for government food distributor COPMAR said.
Cuba imports most of the food and fuel it consumes, but revenues have plunged following COVID, worsened by strict US sanctions and stagnant tourism, which was once a mainstay of the nation’s economy.
The government continues to ration a basic basket of goods including rice, beans, sugar, and proteins, such as pork, chicken, beef and fish.
The original article contains 294 words, the summary contains 183 words. Saved 38%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!