Florida Shuts Down Counterfeit Cigar Ring

Andrew Nagy
Posted: November 23, 2009

Florida law enforcement officials earlier this month put an abrupt end to one of the country's largest, most sophisticated counterfeit cigar operations, arresting five individuals and seizing millions of dollars worth of fake smokes, equipment and vehicles.

The organization is accused of mass-producing counterfeit Cuban cigars, including, among other Cuban brands, Cohiba, Montecristo and Romeo y Julieta.

Investigators say the organization would re-label and repackage inexpensive cigars with the expensive bands, markings and boxes synonymous with popular Cuban cigar brands, some of which were made so well that they looked more authentic than the originals in some cases.

For more on this story, see tomorrow's Cigar Insider.

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