A US journalist infiltrated Cuba: “Intelligence agents followed me and confiscated all my equipment”

Journalist and content creator Nick Shirley reported being persecuted by the Cuban regime during a trip to Havana, where he sought to document the humanitarian crisis that the island is going through. According to his account, intelligence agents followed him throughout his stay, confiscated work equipment and set up an operation to prevent him from broadcasting images of the real situation in the country

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Through a video posted on social networks, Shirley stated that he was “about to be taken hostage” by the authorities, in an episode that once again highlights the restrictions on press freedom in Cuba.

Confiscated equipment and permanent surveillance

According to his testimony, as soon as he arrived in the country, the authorities withheld most of his filming tools. “They took all my cameras, microphones and equipment, except for my iPhone,” he explained

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From that moment on, constant monitoring began by alleged undercover agents. While conducting interviews on the street to learn about the situation of citizens, his team detected people who were watching them and even

filming them.

The situation worsened when, according to him, several individuals linked to Cuban intelligence were identified inside the hotel where they were staying. “We have Cuban spies downstairs, in the lobby, trying to stop us before we can leave the country,” he

.

“Communism not only affects the economy, it also eliminates freedom of expression and of the press,” he said, stressing that the regime tries to control everything that is disseminated to the outside world.

Escape plan in the face of the risk of detention

Faced with the risk of being arrested, Shirley explained that she began planning an early departure from the country. Among the options evaluated, he mentioned going to the United States embassy or taking his flight early to avoid being stuck

on the island.

“We are planning how to escape. If this video is published, it means that we managed to get out,” he said in his testimony

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The case generated strong repercussions and refocused on the lack of liberties in Cuba, where journalists and creators face serious restrictions when trying to show the reality of the regime.