Arbitrary detention, theft and threats against activist

On June 18, 2018, Yarmila Diaz Artiguieta arrived at the Jose Marti Airport, after attending an event, organized by the Center for the Opening and Development of Latin America (CADAL) in Trinidad and Tobago. On the way to her home by taxi, the taxi was intercepted by some National Revolutionary Police officers (PNR) and they forced her off the taxi. From there, she was transferred to the Police Unit in Pinar del Rio where she was meticulously searched, and officers took 180 USD from her without a warrant or legal document. In addition, they threatened to detain her for being a political opponent, they said they would separate her from her children and start an official warning of counterrevolution. Yarmila was illegally detained for five hours after her detention. Three days later, the police chief summoned Yarmila to his office, where the State Security Chief of that municipality, Orestes Ayala, interrogated her about details of her trip to Trinidad and Tobago and threatened to take action against his children if she continued her work as an activist.