Brazilian authorities have conducted their most significant humanitarian rescue mission in Roraima state, saving 108 Cuban migrants from human traffickers near the border with Guyana.
The rescued migrants are currently being held in Roraima state as officials work to resolve their immigration documentation before connecting them with social services personnel, authorities announced Tuesday.
Five individuals face human smuggling charges following their arrest in connection with the operation. These traffickers, referred to as “coyotes,” demanded excessive payments while guaranteeing safe passage into Brazil, according to law enforcement.
“In reality, the route imposed by them ignores any standard of human dignity or road safety. Foreigners are subjected to exhausting journeys in vehicles that are not properly maintained,” police added.
Monday’s rescue operation represents the most extensive humanitarian mission documented in the state. Since June 2024, officials report saving 297 Cuban migrants who were attempting unauthorized entry into Brazil through Roraima.
Cuba’s deteriorating economic situation amid a worsening financial crisis and intensifying U.S. sanctions has prompted increasing numbers of Cuban citizens to seek refuge in Brazil. Official statistics show Cuban immigration to Brazil has dramatically increased since 2022.
By 2025, Cubans overtook Venezuelans as the primary nationality applying for refugee protection in Brazil, submitting over 40,000 requests, according to the Ministry of Justice’s annual migration report released in May.
“If geopolitical tensions between Cuba and the United States worsen, migration flows toward Brazil could increase,” the ministry said. It added that regularization through refugee status recognition could be an alternative.
Government officials note that wealthier migrants typically fly directly to Sao Paulo, the nation’s most populous city. Those facing more difficult financial circumstances frequently travel by land, crossing through the northern Amazon regions of Amapa and Roraima, which collectively house nearly 60% of migrants’ residential locations.
