http://www.cnn.com/2004/LAW/06/09/cigar.smuggle.ap/index.html
Guys! Last time I checked one box does not equal "thousands", but on the other hand, did you guys check out his profit margin? Cost $25 Revenue $400 Net $375 per box Okay, so here's the plan. LoL
Crazy. He shouldn't be doing time for that. One question though. I wonder if he knew he was buying fakes? You can't touch any factory authorized boxes from even mildly well known makers for $25-$60 a box.
You can get top quality real cigars in down town Havana for the prices quoted,the difference between real and fake is the government stamp,realistically do you think the Cubans import fake tobacco leaves?The airport prices are in the higher amounts for the same cigars down town. Dave Mc But on topic this guy should never be doing time for this,I think saying he was trading with the"enemy"is a bit much,it"s about time the stupid embargo is done away with communism is dead and proven to be so.
Law is a law, Wasn't like he was getting a few boxes for him and his buddies, this guy had a pretty big operation going.
1st, I agree with your latter statement. 2nd, the difference is far greater than the stamp. 99% of people can't tell the difference between the best fakes and the real thing. FYI, the best quality cigars are exported, you won't find any of the best available in Havana. The fakes are incredibly good these days, though the best fakes are coming out of Costa Rica right now and not Cuba. 3rd, your question, "realistically do you think the Cubans import fake tobacco leaves?" is interesting and I'll give you a two part answer. 1)Officially none of the factories import any tobacco, but I see a hell of lot of good Corojo leaf going to Cuba. While real numbers are sketchy at best it has been known for some time that Cuba is exporting more cigars than their tobacco capabilities can produce. I wonder, how can that be??? 2)While most fake cubans made in Cuba are made with genuine Cuban tobacco, it is dangerous to assume that the cigars are the same. Most of the cuban made fakes are made with illegally obtained tobacco that is stolen from the factories. The easiest tobacco to steal is the stuff that gets rejected for one reason or another through the manufacturing process and is destined to be destroyed. It makes no difference to most people, but the difference is stark for those who can taste the difference between a leaf that has only been through the first fermentation and not the second or third.
First, I agree with Rob, this guy wasnt just bringing back some boxes for personal use. "If you are willing to do the crime, you might have to do the time" Second, I have found the easiest way to spot the fakes (BTW I have been smoking cigars since I was 16) is to look at the Cohiba wrapper. If there are black specks on the orange/ yellow wrapper, its probably fake. The guys trying to make a quick dime, dont spend the money to print the labels well. Third, at the Lambo Polo event, I met Javier owner of Javiers (he has a Gallardo) which happens to have a cigar room/bar. I know there are a lot of events going on, but would like to see who is interested in a exotic car cigar night. If there is enough interest I will start a separate thread. Nick
Janvier's is a great place. It would be a good locaiton for a Fine Dining event. Although I am not a cigar smoke, I have been in the cigar bar. It's very nice. Javier is a great guy as well. He seems to try to make the rounds each night at the restaurant to meet his patrons. In the pase he has owned a 360 and a 550. Javier's parking lot usually has at least 1 or 2 Ferraris in the lot most nights.
How about either Thursday, June 17 or Thursday, June 24? Here's a link to their menu in case you want a preview..... http://www.javiers.net/entrees.asp I recommend that we eat in the cigar bar and not in the restaurant. Once you guys pick a date, I can work out the other details (seating, and more importantly, the PARKING situation) since Nick did all the work on the last get together. Looking forward to seeing you all soon, Frances
Does the Javier's thing need to be the fine dining event or can it be a impromptu happy hour like the one we just had at the Samba Room? (or did you consider that fine dining event #3?) Sorry if I am creating any confusion but that is what women are best at. It's our favorite diversion technique.
Nick, that method works fairly well but the best of the new fakes are flawless. I've been inside the factory in Costa Rica where they make them(by accident) and I know the final assembly point is in Miami. I sat down with a few cigar maker friends and we disected a box that another friend had bought. They were good quality cigars that smoked very nice. The cigars in question were Cohiba Piramides LE and they were fake, but the best I've ever seen. My buddy owns the factory next to the one producing the above fakes in Costa Rica. It's an amazing facility considering the product. It's sad because they have very talented rollers and blenders who are wasting their gifts on creating counterfeits. It's also a waste of high quality tobacco. They make the cigars in CR, they print the labels in CR and make the boxes in CR. They ship everything seperate to Miami for final assembly and they are distributed from there. That little fabrica in CR is producing well over 2 million cigars a year and the final product is selling for $250-$400 a box so it's a nice little business for somebody. In a side by side comparison with an unopened box of real LE Piramides next to the fakes it wasn't until you cut the cigar open to look at the tobacco that you could tell it was fake. The box, label, tissue, insert, markings, codes and end capping on the cigar were all executed flawlessly. Truly amazing and scary. I'll watch for a thread on a cigar night and if my schedule permits I'll try to make it. Would be great fun to enjoy an evening with people who share my two favorite passions.
Speed Racerette, We can always do an impromptu event, but attendance might be a problem. For example, many people will be at Indy so the 17th might be a problem. Let me ask it a different way, what do you think of coordinating ( Ill call Javier) for the Fine Dining #4 on Saturday, July 31st? If that works we kill two birds with one stone. Let me know, Nick
