Cigar Weekly

On March 22nd, Anne-Margaret Sobota of the Citizen/Keys News reported a crackdown on shops selling counterfeited cigars in Key West. The raid was conducted by Monroe County Sheriff's deputies and investigators from the State's Attorney's Office and netted seven shops. 

 

Altadis U.S. A. has issues a press release outlining the swoops as well. The raid taking place on Tuesday March 18 involved not only the aforementioned agencies, but also Altadis itself, along with agents of "the Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs,  Marathon County, Duval County, Monroe County Sheriff's Offices, Key West Code Compliance and the Florida Department of Revenue." Of the seven Key West establishments, five owners were arrested for "cigar counterfeiting" in a "nationwide crackdown. "Altadis U.S.A., the largest manufacturer and marketer of cigars in the world" assisted authorities who "seized a substantial number of boxes of counterfeit Montecristo, H. Upmann and Romeo y Julieta cigars, and also counterfeit Cohiba cigars as a result of the cooperation of General Cigar."

According to the release from Janelle Rosenfeld of Altadis: "We hope these arrests send a clear message to the cigar industry and the public in general that those engaging in cigar counterfeiting will be arrested, their assets will be seized and they ultimately will be held accountable," said Eric Workman, Senior Vice President of Marketing at Altadis U.S.A. "Altadis U.S.A. is committed to pursuing cigar counterfeiters and infringers of our trademarks, and dedicated to protecting our business and the business of our legitimate authorized retailers."

 

Theinvestigations, and on-going efforts of "raids and arrests are the latest in a series of actions that have taken place in recent months as part of an aggressive effort led by Altadis U.S.A. and state and
federal law enforcement officials to put a halt to cigar counterfeiting." Industry speculation has indicated that hundreds of millions of dollars worth of counterfeit cigars are produced annually.

"We are committed to doing whatever it takes to protect our valuable brand names and
trade designs and ensuring that they are associated with the high standards of quality and
distribution for which they are known," said Theo Folz, President and CEO of Altadis
U.S.A. "We have established a loyal following for our brands and we intend to
vigorously defend their integrity. Altadis U.S.A. will continue to pursue legal remedies
against all counterfeiters and sellers of counterfeit cigars."

 

Published verbatim, Altadis U.S.A. includes the following: warning to those within the cigar industry and those involved in counterfeiting. 

NOTICE TO THE TRADE
Altadis U.S.A. is strongly committed to vigorous enforcement of its trademark rights and
will seek criminal prosecution of anyone who would infringe those rights. Altadis
U.S.A. continues to work with state and federal law officials to use anti-counterfeiting
laws to secure convictions of counterfeiters of our brands.
If we learn that any importer, distributor, retailer or other member of the trade is dealing
in counterfeit cigars or cigar packaging of our brands, we will proceed against you
aggressively through civil and/or criminal channels. In addition to criminal prosecution,
in appropriate cases, we will invoke the civil provision of the federal trademark law that
allows courts to award trademark owners like Altadis U.S.A. up to $1 million in statutory
(non-compensatory) damages per counterfeited mark, as well as their attorney's fees. We
have been awarded damages and attorney's fees of $1 million to $3.5 million in such
cases.
Altadis U.S.A. also continues to work successfully with U.S. Customs to arrange for the
seizure and destruction of shipments of counterfeit cigars and packaging materials. Any
retailer who has paid for cigars that turn out to be counterfeits and are thus seized by
officials should be aware that in such circumstances they will find themselves without
recourse. Counterfeiters do not refund monies paid nor are they in a position to make
good with legitimate product with the quality and prestige of Altadis U.S.A.'s brands.
Additionally, Altadis U.S.A. reserves the right to cancel as direct accounts those parties
who trade in counterfeit cigars.
Altadis U.S.A.'s premium brands include, among others: Montecristo, H. Upmann,
Romeo y Julieta, Trinidad, Don Diego, Santa Damiana, Cabañas, Por Larrañaga,
La Corona, Saint Luís Rey and Quintero.
We caution the trade against engaging in illegal activity in violation of our rights in any
of our brands and ask you to inform us immediately if you receive solicitations for
products that violate such rights.