Dollar transfer service to Cuba resumes

Sending remittances to Cuba has faced increasing obstacles in recent months. Western Union, one of the main traditional channels, abandoned service to the island following the country's inclusion on the list of state sponsors of terrorism and the reinstatement of financial restrictions under the Donald Trump administration. However, so far, the current administration has not implemented any new stringent measures, despite calls from figures such as Cuban-American Congressman Carlos Giménez, who recently requested a suspension of all remittances and travel to the island.

Despite the obstacles, Cubamax announced this week that it has partially resumed its services. According to 14ymedio, deliveries in Cuban pesos and US dollars are now available, although remittances to cards in freely convertible currency (MLC) remains suspended.

For at least three days, beginning on April 24, the agency did not process remittances, according to employees at its Miami offices, who attributed the pause to a change of provider on the island.

"The person in charge of distributing the money can't do it anymore," explained one employee. Another worker added that "it took about two days for the supplier to start from scratch," forcing the service to be briefly halted.

Despite this, the agency issued a statement denying the suspension of its operations, calling the information circulating on social media "false and irresponsible." However, that statement did not specify which services had been active, when in fact the website and physical offices were not operating normally.

Other companies that have suspended sending dollars to Cuba

Cubamax isn't the only one affected. Other companies such as Cuballama, Cubatel, and Cubaenvío also faced disruptions. Cuballama has already resumed operations and, unlike Cubamax, continues to offer shipments with no apparent currency restrictions.

These logistical difficulties have coincided with an increasingly complex financial environment on the island. Orbit SA, the financial arm of the military conglomerate GAESA, lost almost all control over the flow of foreign remittances following restrictions imposed by the United States.

Until then, it was the company that managed much of the money sent from abroad. Today, agencies like Cubamax rely on informal cash distribution networks to operate.

The movement of foreign currency outside official channels is illegal in Cuba, but it remains a widespread practice. The shortage of dollars in the state system has led the government to establish mechanisms to prevent their escape. One of the most drastic decisions was the freezing of foreign company accounts, preventing the repatriation of the collected foreign currency.

Despite this restrictive situation, agencies are looking for ways to adapt. In the case of Cubamax, the solution was to find a new supplier on the island to resume cash deliveries.

Meanwhile, the channel in MLC remains inactive. This is a sign that, although service has partially resumed, the operating environment remains uncertain and vulnerable to political and economic changes.