Cuban customs detects an attempt to smuggle out more than 370 boxes of counterfeit cigars through Havana airport

The General Customs of the Republic of Cuba reported the detection of an attempt to illegally extract more than 370 boxes of counterfeit cigars at the "José Martí" International Airport in Havana.

The finding was reported by Wiliam Pérez González, the first deputy chief of Customs, who announced the case through his account on X.

According to official information, two passengers were attempting to smuggle counterfeit tobacco boxes of various brands out of the country, an operation that violated the current legal regulations for the export of such products, as established by the Ministry of Agriculture.

The authorities confirm that customs officers detected the shipment during routine checks at the airport.

In a message on Facebook, the Customs announced that the appropriate measures were taken and the traveler involved was made available to the competent authorities.

"The case was reported to the police," Pérez González specified.

The institution noted that these types of illegal operations violate current regulations and also impact the international reputation of Cuban tobacco.

"The attempts to illegally extract counterfeit tobacco for sale outside the national territory harm the image and reputation of Cuban brands and, therefore, impact a vital export sector for the country's economy," the publication stated.

The authorities presented this incident as part of their efforts to protect national brands and control the illicit trade of products associated with one of the country's most important export sectors.

Tobacco is considered one of the iconic export products of Cuba and is part of the foreign currency income sources that the government seeks to protect amid the deep economic crisis the country is facing.

Increased controls at airports

This case is part of a series of recent announcements in which Cuban customs authorities report seizures, attempts at smuggling, or detections of illegal goods in the country's airports, showcasing operations and findings of counterfeit merchandise or attempts at export that violate the law.

At the beginning of the month, at the "José Martí" International Airport, Customs detected over 4,400 counterfeit Cohiba tobacco seals that had arrived from the United States.

The discovery was also announced by the first deputy chief of the institution, Wiliam Pérez González.

"Confronting counterfeiting and protecting our registered trademarks is a priority," the official stated.

The Cohiba brand is considered one of the most emblematic of Cuban tobacco and one of the most valued in the international market, making it one of the most frequent targets for counterfeiting networks.

So far, the authorities have not provided additional details about the identity of the passengers involved in the new case or about the destination of the seized boxes of tobacco.