Habanos s.a Update: End of week two.

[El Presidente]

Five now confirmed in Jail in Havana (awaiting trial) including Vice president of HSA Manuel Garcia.More are being held under questioning.

I won't go into the names but it spreads from the export section to overseas HSA heads.

Fraud/corruption is essentially the charge.

The investigations are going deeper and deeper as people "roll" under questioning.

The next week should prove interesting.

[anacostiakat]

Five now confirmed in Jail in Havana (awaiting trial) including Vice president of HSA Manuel Garcia.More are being held under questioning.

I won't go into the names but it spreads from the export section to overseas HSA heads.

Fraud/corruption is essentially the charge.

The investigations are going deeper and deeper as people "roll" under questioning.

The next week should prove interesting.

"...as people "roll" under torture. ..." Fixed

[El Presidente]

let's hope they clean up the whole stinking mess.

[MontrealRon]

let's hope they clean up the whole stinking mess.

Do you mean the mess in HSA, or the mess in the Cuban "legal" system??

[El Presidente]

Do you mean the mess in HSA, or the mess in the Cuban "legal" system??

In HSA

[Dbone]

Does this explain my bunk RyJ Dukes

Maybe a silly question but who is responsible for the investigation & prosecution?

[El Presidente]

Maybe a silly question but who is responsible for the investigation & prosecution?

Ministry of the Interior

[Guest rob]

How much of what they are accused of is common (insider) knowledge?

Are you expecting more charges for things we (teh publice) are yet to learn about?

[Trevor2118]

How much of what they are accused of is common (insider) knowledge?

I think that the blind and the deaf knew very little

[El Presidente]

How much of what they are accused of is common (insider) knowledge?

Are you expecting more charges for things we (teh publice) are yet to learn about?

Suspected certainly.

As for changes, there will be significant which is a good thing. Let's see how it pans out.

[Jesuscookies]

O the perils of being a cc smoker.

Sucks to be them.

[CanuckSARTech]

For right or wrong, it definitely looks like Castro woke up finally, saw what they've been doing for the last 4 or 5 years, and decided to give the corp a big, glorious, commie red bitchslap.

That's what you get for the Monte Opens.

And for cancelling Dip 4's. And some LGC. And....

[frenchkiwi]

right with you on this one Canuck.

hmmm. What will the long term repercussions be of this crackdown?

i suppose difficult to tell if we don't know what they are accused of...

anyways, anyone on FoH gonna run to fill the vacancies?

maybe FoH Moderators could be called in as a Vice Squad (he he) or Crack Consultants for Habanos future strategy.

[LeafLover]

I don't know the particulars, but the fact that they are under investigation implies that there are people in the government that are not corrupt (which is likely) and want to end corruption in Cuba. Or, at the very least, these honest politicians/government officials could no longer tolerate the level of corruption (also very likely).

I'm putting on my money on the idea that these HSA individuals being investigated refused to share the wealth with others.

[El Presidente]

I don't know the particulars, but the fact that they are under investigation implies that there are people in the government that are not corrupt (which is likely) and want to end corruption in Cuba. Or, at the very least, these honest politicians/government officials could no longer tolerate the level of corruption (also very likely).

I'm putting on my money on the idea that these HSA individuals being investigated refused to share the wealth with others.

All supposition at this point but it is heartening to see the resources being put to this investigation. It is seriously ruthless.

[nonameno]

Hello Gentlemen,

Is it believed that they are talking only corruption, or the running and decision making of the Cuban cigar business itself? What I mean to say is, do you think this will impact the quality of cigar production?

Thank you,

Curtiss

[El Presidente]

Hello Gentlemen,

Is it believed that they are talking only corruption, or the running and decision making of the Cuban cigar business itself? What I mean to say is, do you think this will impact the quality of cigar production?

Thank you,

Curtiss

Corruption primarily.

It may interrupt supply to some major internet sellers however.

[compitaveggie]

Could this have anything to do with certain retailers that cut off the barcode?

Jose

[El Presidente]

Could this have anything to do with certain retailers that cut off the barcode?

Jose

Not really. It is about massive re-routing of Cuban cigars to non authorized retainers for personal gain. And then some.

[OZCUBAN]

Could this have anything to do with certain retailers that cut off the barcode?

Jose

Yes i have often wondered this at times ,all i can say is wow ,i am shocked and at the same time not suprised

OZ

[OZCUBAN]

So in essence they are the source of the grey market or is that something different?

OZ

[Colt45]

I've been finding this whole thing a little difficult to digest (not to believe), and as might be expected, I'm left with many questions.....

First thought is how Imperial feels about it (assuming Imperial people aren't involved). I find the "massive re-routing of Cuban cigars to non

authorized retainers" of particular interest. Were these cigars never accounted for, or were they replaced - and if replaced, with what?

And then the conspiracy theorist in me wonders if these cigars were sent boxed and banded - or if all parts were sent in bulk and then put

together as demand required. Regardless, someone, somewhere spilled the beans - I've more questions........

And as naive as I am, I see and hope this might be the crack that allows some sort of privatization.

[El Presidente]

I've been finding this whole thing a little difficult to digest (not to believe), and as might be expected, I'm left with many questions.....

First thought is how Imperial feels about it (assuming Imperial people aren't involved). I find the "massive re-routing of Cuban cigars to non

authorized retainers" of particular interest. Were these cigars never accounted for, or were they replaced - and if replaced, with what?

And then the conspiracy theorist in me wonders if these cigars were sent boxed and banded - or if all parts were sent in bulk and then put

together as demand required. Regardless, someone, somewhere spilled the beans - I've more questions........

And as naive as I am, I see and hope this might be the crack that allows some sort of privatization.

Nothing to date to suggest Imperial people involved. time will tell.

Warehouse people involved in fraud (at a high level) working with others on and offshore.

The rest will play out in due course.

[Colt45]

The rest will play out in due course.

Thanks - really just thinking out loud....

[LeafLover]

I wonder if in the due course of this investigation, those investigated will flip and give up those retailers they may be re-routing to. Should this happen, will they make these sources public?