Have you ever heard someone say they were “caught by their scent trail”?
You probably have—even if you didn’t know what that meant.
This forensic technique has been used for over 30 years in Cuba as a method of criminal identification. But how reliable is it? And what are the risks of relying on it as the only evidence in a trial?
In this new feature from the “Now in Cuba” section, I present a first critical exploration of forensic odorology in the Cuban context. Through document review, legal comparison, and visual interpretation, you’ll gain access to:
📈 A timeline showing how scent evidence became institutionalized from 1989 to today’s legal debates.
📊 Comparative infographics between the Cuban model and more advanced international practices.
🧬 Clear and technical explanations of what a “scent signature” is, how detection dogs are trained, and why this method remains contested in courts.
⚖️ Legal reflections on using scent evidence as the sole incriminating proof and the risks this poses in proceedings without due process guarantees.
📚 A curated list of sources and additional materials to deepen and verify everything discussed.
Because human scent leaves no visible trace—it can shape someone’s fate in court.
I didn’t write this article to glorify the technique but to open a well-informed, grounded debate. In a system where due process rights are often violated, understanding how this type of evidence is used could make the difference between justice and an unjust conviction.
🎫 You can access the article in the “Now in Cuba” subscription section.
It includes exclusive visualizations, interactive tables, cited references, and content unavailable in the public version.
👉 By subscribing, you support independent research on overlooked legal practices—and help shed light on underexplored areas of Cuba’s justice system.