Philip Morris USA Sues Retailers to Combat Counterfeit Cigarette Sales

On Friday, working with the Suffolk County Police Department, Philip Morris USA seized two hundred and ninety packs of counterfeit Marlboro cigarettes from two retailers on the Poospatuck Reservation in Suffolk County, NY as part of a lawsuit filed by PM USA against the smoke shops. Earlier last week, a federal judge in New York granted PM USA's request for emergency relief including the ability to search the smoke shops for counterfeit Marlboro® cigarettes. This lawsuit is the latest in a series of lawsuits by PM USA aimed at combating the sale of counterfeit Marlboro® cigarettes in New York. Since May 2009, PM USA has filed lawsuits against 48 retailers in New York for selling counterfeit Marlboro® cigarettes, including six other Poospatuck retailers. Philip Morris USA is an operating company of Altria Group, Inc. MO.