French customs agents seize large haul of counterfeit Cuban cigars

Deutsche Presse Agentur
Published: Thursday September 21, 2006

Paris- French customs agents at the Charles de Gaulle Airport north of Paris have impounded a shipment of 35,390 counterfeit Cuban cigars, the Customs Service said Thursday. The fake cigars, which have a value of about 365,000 euros (464,000 dollars), were seized at the end of August and were part of a large shipment originating in Panama and destined for Hong Kong.

According to a statement by the Customs Service, the false nature of the cigars "was difficult to detect" as most of the articles accompanying them in the shipment were authentic.

It was the fourth seizure of its kind since May 2 and, according to customs officials, confirms the growth of a new kind of fraud, since no counterfeit cigars had ever been seized in France before that date.

© 2006 DPA - Deutsche Presse-Agenteur