On Friday, an operation of the Armed Forces, Police and the Intellectual Property Department of the District Attorney’s office dismantled a factory where cigars were being manufactured and labeled with world-famous cigar brands. Likewise, the operation confiscated 400 boxes of counterfeit cigars worth RD$4 million for sale in 15 stores in Boca Chica and booths in the Mella Modelo Market. Alberto García, president of the National Federation of Cigar Producers says that the sale of counterfeit cigars here is not new, but that it had intensified in recent months. The main concern of legitimate cigar producers is that the lower quality of the cigars being sold under their brand names may affect the reputation of the real cigar producers. The operation occurs at a time when cigar exports are on the rebound after several years of decline. Cigar production is up 72% this year. Forecasts from the Dominican Tobacco Institute are for export of 350 million cigars to the United States and Europe this year, generating US$245 million. 95% of the exports go to the United States.
