New Customs Decree-Law: Increased Cuban Customs control over shipments, luggage, and confiscated items

Cuban Customs is preparing a new decree-law to control the fate of confiscated items.

The Cuban government has approved the draft of a new Customs Decree-Law, which aims to reorganize and expand its powers over customs clearance of merchandise, luggage, and other goods entering or leaving the country.

Although the details of the text have not been published, everything points to a more rigorous legal framework that will directly affect travelers, shippers, and citizens who depend on non-commercial imports.

Changes in the customs clearance process

Nelson Cordovés Reyes, head of the General Customs Office of the Republic (AGR), presented the proposal to the Council of Ministers, arguing that the measure seeks to formalize and control all customs regimes. Specifically, the decree will regulate the customs clearance of goods and means of transportation, as well as shipments and personal luggage.

Customs clearance is the final step by which goods held in customs are released for use or sale within the country, provided legal requirements are met. With the new decree, Cuban authorities seek to further centralize this process and establish specific mechanisms to decide the final destination of seized goods.

Is the state use of confiscated assets legalized?

One of the issues that most concerns citizens is the possible inclusion of regulations authorizing the use or redistribution of items confiscated by the State, especially those products that are not properly declared or exceed established limits.

Although authorities have not explained whether this is a measure to cover domestic needs or a pretext for seizing valuable goods, the current context suggests it could be both. With chronic product shortages and a growing fiscal deficit, it would not be surprising if confiscated goods end up in state distribution channels or even in stores selling freely convertible currency.

🇨🇺 | The Council of Ministers approved the proposed rationale and preliminary draft of the "Customs" Decree-Law, as well as its upcoming submission to the Council of State.

📍 Recent Council of Ministers session. pic.twitter.com/pQCjBKZTbr

— Cuban Government 🇨🇺 (@GobiernoCuba) April 18, 2025

Reactions: "More misery for the people"

The news has generated a wave of criticism on social media, where many Cubans denounce that these regulations only deepen restrictions for the population. Some users accuse Customs of being the true "internal obstacle" that prevents access to necessary products, and point out that the more laws are passed, the more difficult it becomes to live on the island.

A widely shared comment sums up the feelings of many: "Another law to deny people access to even an aspirin. But those who pass this never have a hard time."

Recent background

This new project comes just months after the reform of Decree-Law 22, which imposed the payment of tariffs in dollars on personal imports. On that occasion, Decree-Law 101 of January XNUMX 2025 It raised the cost of bringing goods into the country, even for family consumption.

Now, with this new proposal, the government appears to be aiming for more exhaustive control of the flow of goods and formal regulation of the destination of everything seized at the border.