Prisoners in Cuba are reportedly being coerced into producing the country’s well-known cigars and marabu charcoal, which are then sold to European consumers. This information comes from a new report by the Madrid-based NGO, Prisoners Defenders. According to the report, an estimated 60,000 individuals are forced to work under threatening and exhausting conditions, receiving little or no remuneration. The products of their labor, including cigars and charcoal labeled as “ecological,” reach markets in Europe, including the UK. The investigation, which involved interviews with prisoners and their families, suggests that this forced labor is part of a “national and institutionalised system of forced labour” tied to export goals.
The Cuban government has not responded to requests for comment. The report, resulting from interviews with 53 individuals from 40 different prisons, attributes responsibility for this system directly to the Cuban government. All respondents reported working under coercion and violence, with 45% experiencing physical violence during their work. Former inmates have come forward, revealing the consequences of refusing to work, including denial of rights to parole or family visits. The NGO has submitted the report to various governments, parliaments, the UN, and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, advocating for international accountability for these crimes and proposing a ban on the trade of products derived from forced labor.
The report highlights also how certain demographics, such as afro-Cubans, are disproportionately affected by these practices, emphasizing the rampant racism and discrimination within the prison system. The NGO’s president, Javier Larrondo, noted the difficulty in tracing the exported goods to specific brands, but the report clearly states that products intended for export, including those from renowned brands like Cohiba, are involved. Corporación Habanos SA, responsible for all Cuban cigar exports, has not responded to inquiries regarding this matter.
The document calls for significant changes, advocating that Cuban prisons should transform from being spaces of punishment and exploitation to centers focused on rehabilitation. This plea is rooted in the belief that such a transformation is essential for upholding human dignity.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/15/cuba-prisoners-forced-labour-cigars-charcoal-report
