Head of Cuban cigar factory Partagas allegedly arrested in Havana

Head of Cuban cigar factory Partagas allegedly arrested in Havana
Posted November 07, 2012 by publisher

Various bloggers are reporting that the head of the Partagas factory in
Havana, Abel Exposito, was arrested last week.

Since there is no official word from Cuban authorities, information
contained in this article cannot be verified.

The alleged charges are for cigar smuggling to Switzerland and foreign
currency matters.

Reports say that Mr. Exposito's son and ex wife have been arrested too.

"It seems that the reasons for the measure are related to the smuggling
of puros, to distributors in Europe, particularly in Switzerland,
outside of official channels of sale , the charges seem to confirm the
arrest of his son, returning from a trip abroad, and illegal possession
of foreign currency…"

A summary from another blogger writes "Yes folks, I heard the sad news
last night. Abel Exposito, director of the Partagas store in Havana,
Cuba, has been arrested. Authorities came to the Partagas store and took
him away in handcuffs and no one has seen him since. They waited for his
son to come back from a trip and arrested him as well when he arrived at
the Jose Marti airport in Havana. Abel's ex-wife was also arrested."

Another source writes "I have it from a reliable source that the new
director of the Partagas store has chosen Rene Valdes Miller from Romeo
y Julieta will be the new director and is taking over the preparations
for the Encuentro. That Means that there will be an Encuentro, the
Partagas happening this November with Rene at the helm.

Recent comments posted to a cigar blog say that "authorities have
finished investigating Partagas and the store has been re-opened.
Everything is running as usual with all the regular staff back at work.
Abel has not been heard from".

http://havanajournal.com/culture/entry/head-of-cuban-cigar-factory-partagas-allegedly-arrested-in-havana/