With Cuba US relations thawing, one entrepreneur hopes to expand his business on the island as a private detective for love relationships
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The thawing of diplomatic relations between Cuba and the United States has many American businesses and investors planning their approach.
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Doing business in Cuba is a controversial topic in South Florida. Some feel most of that money will only fuel the communist regime, while others believe it will create jobs for the Cuban people.
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It’s no secret Cuba’s been a forbidden fruit for many Americans. Tight restrictions remain, but rum and cigars can now legally make their way into the U.S. in small quantities.
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Investors also have their eyes on endless business opportunities and one South Florida man already took a bite out of an untapped market… private investigation.
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Fernando Alvarez says once Americans flock to the island, they’re sure to fall prey to a love trap, just like hundreds of foreigners before them, but not if he can prevent it.
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“In every case you need uncover the truth,” Alvarez said. “In every case you need to find out if the person is being faithful to the American who goes there and get in love with her.”
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Alvarez, the owner of Drakonx Agency, has been doing this type of work for more than 13 years and has four sleuths on the ground in Cuba.
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Alvarez will take on all sorts of investigations; however, his most requested assignments on the island are all about infidelity.
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“It’s difficult, the life in Cuba for many Cubans, specifically the young people. They don’t see a future in Cuba and they want to find a way out,” he said.
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Cuban-foreigner relationships are nothing new. But as the Castro family tenure continues to extend past 55 years, many Cubans have grown more desperate.
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The only way out for some Cubans is marrying a foreigner and many will do whatever it takes, according to Alvarez, who says he’s seen it all.
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“The spouse, the husband or the boyfriend, acts like a pimp. They have their wife or girlfriend going out with foreigners so they can make money and they live a better life.”
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The agency’s detectives in Cuba, however, face a great risk. It’s a grey area when it comes down to private detective work on the island.
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“I mean it’s not legal, but it’s not illegal either,” Alvarez said.
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As Washington and Havana seek to normalize ties, the love detective expects to have his eye on more than just romance. Alvarez believes Americans who want to invest in Cuba will eventually hire a private investigator to get the full scoop before cashing out.
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“They’ll need to verify that everything is doing right that their business is protected, so they’ll need a private investigator the same way the need it here in America.“
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Not all of the agency’s investigations end up revealing fraud. Alvarez said he’s also uncovered many true love stories.
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A large majority of his infidelity case clients are Canadians for now, but he expects Americans will soon be next in line.
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Published Tuesday, Apr 28, 2015
NBC Miami | http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/LoveDetectivePromisestoKeepRelationshipsHonestasMoreAmericansTraveltoCuba301502421.html