Philip Morris USA Fights Counterfeit Cigarettes
RICHMOND, Va. -- After Philip Morris USA filed a lawsuit against three Mastic, N.Y., retail stores on the Poospatuck reservation, approximately 300 cartons of counterfeit Marlboro cigarettes were seized.
The Mastic retailers were among a group of nine stores in New York and New Jersey that PM USA sued for selling counterfeit versions of the company’s brand cigarettes.
"The sale of counterfeit cigarettes undermines the value of our trademarks, and Philip Morris USA is committed to taking steps necessary to protect its brands and the legitimate cigarette trade," said Joe Murillo, vice president and associate general counsel, Altria Client Services, speaking on behalf of PM USA.
PM USA conducts periodic marketplace purchases of cigarettes and found each of the defendants selling counterfeit cigarettes during August 2009. As a result, PM USA filed suit in the Eastern District of New York against the following defendants from Mastic:
-- Smoking Arrow Smoke Shop, 159 Poospatuck Lane
-- Belle Belle Smoke Shop, 174 Poospatuck Lane
-- Flying Arrows Smoke Shop, 130 Poospatuck Lane
This lawsuit is the latest in a series of actions PM USA has taken to address counterfeit activity involving its brands. On May 6, PM USA filed suit against Mastic-based Tammy’s Smoke Shop for selling counterfeit versions of Marlboro cigarettes, followed by suits filed on May 18, against seven retailers in New York and New Jersey that also sold counterfeit cigarettes. PM USA has sued 17 retailers in New York and New Jersey in 2009 for the sale of counterfeit versions of Marlboro brand cigarettes.
The average retail price for Marlboro brand cigarettes has grown to $9.56 in New York City, of which $5.26 is federal and local excise taxes. The counterfeit cigarettes purchased from the retailers did not bear the appropriate tax stamp, as a result, the applicable excise taxes were not paid.
"With its high taxes on cigarettes and the non-enforcement of tax collection on reservation sales to non-tribal members, the New York metropolitan area continues to be an attractive market for contraband cigarette activity," Murillo said. "Resolving these issues would go a long way toward reducing illegal activity."
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), cigarettes were ranked ninth among the most valuable seized counterfeit products in fiscal year 2008—the first time cigarettes made CBP’s top 10 seizures list since 2005.
Since 2002, PM USA filed lawsuits against 185 retailers selling counterfeit cigarettes in New York and New Jersey. In addition to litigation, PM USA works closely with law enforcement authorities in a variety of ways to support their efforts to address contraband cigarette activity, the company stated.
Related News:
Tobacco Cos. Win Inches with Dollars
Altria Reports Increase in Q2 Profits
Blazing a New Tobacco Road
The Mastic retailers were among a group of nine stores in New York and New Jersey that PM USA sued for selling counterfeit versions of the company’s brand cigarettes.
"The sale of counterfeit cigarettes undermines the value of our trademarks, and Philip Morris USA is committed to taking steps necessary to protect its brands and the legitimate cigarette trade," said Joe Murillo, vice president and associate general counsel, Altria Client Services, speaking on behalf of PM USA.
PM USA conducts periodic marketplace purchases of cigarettes and found each of the defendants selling counterfeit cigarettes during August 2009. As a result, PM USA filed suit in the Eastern District of New York against the following defendants from Mastic:
-- Smoking Arrow Smoke Shop, 159 Poospatuck Lane
-- Belle Belle Smoke Shop, 174 Poospatuck Lane
-- Flying Arrows Smoke Shop, 130 Poospatuck Lane
This lawsuit is the latest in a series of actions PM USA has taken to address counterfeit activity involving its brands. On May 6, PM USA filed suit against Mastic-based Tammy’s Smoke Shop for selling counterfeit versions of Marlboro cigarettes, followed by suits filed on May 18, against seven retailers in New York and New Jersey that also sold counterfeit cigarettes. PM USA has sued 17 retailers in New York and New Jersey in 2009 for the sale of counterfeit versions of Marlboro brand cigarettes.
The average retail price for Marlboro brand cigarettes has grown to $9.56 in New York City, of which $5.26 is federal and local excise taxes. The counterfeit cigarettes purchased from the retailers did not bear the appropriate tax stamp, as a result, the applicable excise taxes were not paid.
"With its high taxes on cigarettes and the non-enforcement of tax collection on reservation sales to non-tribal members, the New York metropolitan area continues to be an attractive market for contraband cigarette activity," Murillo said. "Resolving these issues would go a long way toward reducing illegal activity."
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), cigarettes were ranked ninth among the most valuable seized counterfeit products in fiscal year 2008—the first time cigarettes made CBP’s top 10 seizures list since 2005.
Since 2002, PM USA filed lawsuits against 185 retailers selling counterfeit cigarettes in New York and New Jersey. In addition to litigation, PM USA works closely with law enforcement authorities in a variety of ways to support their efforts to address contraband cigarette activity, the company stated.
Related News:
Tobacco Cos. Win Inches with Dollars
Altria Reports Increase in Q2 Profits
Blazing a New Tobacco Road