Philip Morris USA Sues Miami Retailers to Combat Counterfeit Cigarette Sales

Philip Morris USA (PM USA) filed a civil lawsuit on Friday against 17 retailers in the Miami area for selling counterfeit Marlboro® cigarettes. This lawsuit is part of a multi-faceted campaign by PM USA aimed at combating the sale of counterfeit Marlboro® cigarettes in south Florida.

"The sale of counterfeit cigarettes undermines Philip Morris USA’s brands, defrauds adult smokers who believe they are purchasing genuine Marlboro® product and harms the legitimate channels through which our products are distributed and sold,” said Jose Luis Murillo, vice president and associate general counsel, Altria Client Services speaking on behalf of PM USA. "Selling counterfeit cigarettes is illegal, and we will take appropriate action to protect our brands, adult consumers and retailers. Philip Morris USA will continue to combat illicit cigarette sales by monitoring the market, supporting law enforcement investigations and pursuing litigation,” said Murillo.

Counterfeit cigarettes are often manufactured in China in unregulated facilities and then smuggled into the U.S. and other countries around the world. Those who profit from the illegal distribution and sale of counterfeit cigarettes are often involved in other organized crimes, such as drug, weapons and human trafficking. These criminals range from small-time smugglers to organized crime and organizations with ties to terrorism. Counterfeit Marlboro® cigarettes are also sold online through China-based websites.

"The sale of counterfeit cigarettes is a developing issue in south Florida resulting in significant lost revenue for the state and Miami in a time when these funds are sorely needed,” added Murillo.

According to PM USA market monitoring, there could be over one million packs of counterfeit Marlboro® cigarettes available annually in the Miami area, making it one of the top three areas in the U.S. for counterfeit cigarettes.

Any consumer who suspects that they have purchased counterfeit Marlboro® cigarettes should call the 1-800 number on the pack to report their purchase to PM USA. To avoid the unintentional sale of counterfeit Marlboro® cigarettes, retailers are encouraged to only purchase cigarettes from legitimate distributors.

Philip Morris USA is an operating company of Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE: MO). More information on PM USA and its policies and positions on tobacco issues is available at www.philipmorrisusa.com.