Counterfeit Cigars in Cuba

[Arctic Dude]

Does anyone have a sense of whether all the counterfeit cigars sold in Cuba are made with actual Cuban tobacco? Given the money involved and extent of sales worldwide, I’m guessing some counterfeiter’s operations can be large enough to introduce counterfeit cigars made elsewhere into the Cuban market???

[nKostyan]

Undoubtedly they are from Cuban tobacco. It's an organized crime group. I hear they're covered by high-ranking army officials from the government.

You can also read the article by Dmitry Drutsa - brand Ambassador Habanos S. A.

Use a translator from Russian to English:

www.cigarros.ru

 

[El Presidente]

7 hours ago, Arctic Dude said:

Does anyone have a sense of whether all the counterfeit cigars sold in Cuba are made with actual Cuban tobacco? Given the money involved and extent of sales worldwide, I’m guessing some counterfeiter’s operations can be large enough to introduce counterfeit cigars made elsewhere into the Cuban market???

I haven't come across non cuban tobacco fakes in cuba.

As nKostyan pointed out, you would be interfering with the cash flow of the executive. You wouldn't last long 

[Wookie]

Are we talking about major brands replicated/faked from inferior tobacco regions? With authentic labels? 

[stogieluver]

Definitely made with Cuban tobacco, and God only knows what else.

[saintsmokealot]

Even if it is Cuban tobacco what its else is in said cigars. Floor sweepings, rat droppings, banana leaves?

[cigcars]

3 hours ago, saintsmokealot said:

Even if it is Cuban tobacco what its else is in said cigars. Floor sweepings, rat droppings, banana leaves?

      *I'd read articles about this very thing years ago in the cigar magazines: the counterfeiters within their own stationary locations claimed they took more pride in their product and thus sold not the premium level brand, but product still with Cuban tobacco that didn't contain "floor sweepings and cast-off reject tobacco" (at least not to a large degree). The rat droppings, banana leaves, etc. are more prevalent at the hands of the young dudes roaming the streets of Cuba looking for obvious foreign tourists to target. And they're, "P-s-s-s-t....hey, Amigo: you wanna buy some cigars? Cheap, muy cheap, cheap, cheap!" And those are the ones in danger of consisting of rolled up newspaper, human hair and animal hair, feces and dirt, etc. Because they're not expecting to see you again as they'll both disappear back underground and you'll be out of the country soon. Sooo - it's recommended that if you do buy your cigars and if you can't get to the LCDH store, then DON'T buy them off the "young entrepreneurs" on the street!

[Meklown]

2 hours ago, cigcars said:

the counterfeiters within their own stationary locations claimed they took more pride in their product and thus sold not the premium level brand, but product still with Cuban tobacco that didn't contain "floor sweepings and cast-off reject tobacco" (at least not to a large degree).

Would these be referred to as "farm rolls" or "customs" rather than "counterfeits"? If anyone had pride in their product, why would they slap a fake band on it and sold it as a counterfeit? 

[Derboesekoenig]

1 hour ago, Meklown said:

Would these be referred to as "farm rolls" or "customs" rather than "counterfeits"? If anyone had pride in their product, why would they slap a fake band on it and sold it as a counterfeit? 

They're looking for more $. As soon as they put bands on, they're counterfeits--advertised as something that they're not.

[cigcars]

11 hours ago, Meklown said:

Would these be referred to as "farm rolls" or "customs" rather than "counterfeits"? If anyone had pride in their product, why would they slap a fake band on it and sold it as a counterfeit? 

     *In other words these counterfeiters (using less than pristine but still Cuban tobacco) are, again stationary, and want to have a repeat customer base. So they can't sell scrap, junk, twigs, paper, etc. That's the best I can do inasfaras attempting to explain the process. They know people highly prize Cuban tobacco and I suppose this is their way of getting people that product a little cheaper than from the LCDH house. As far as letting people know they aren't the Habana House's "authorized product" -well..."honesty"? 

[SenorPerfecto]

The OP's question assumes that everything that's in Cuba fakes is actually tobacco.

 

Banana leaves are cheaper and take up more space in a cigar.

 

But yes, they are almost certainly Cuban banana leaves.

[BTWheezy]

6 hours ago, SenorPerfecto said:

The OP's question assumes that everything that's in Cuba fakes is actually tobacco.

 

Banana leaves are cheaper and take up more space in a cigar.

 

But yes, they are almost certainly Cuban banana leaves.

@SenorPerfecto - your wit is on the dry side.  ?

[Arctic Dude]

33 minutes ago, BTWheezy said:

@SenorPerfecto - your wit is on the dry side.  ?

So are the banana leaves!! ??

[Arctic Dude]

So, the famous glass top boxes are all manufactured there too?