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Monday, 26 May 2008
A Chinese businesswoman, who is accused of selling counterfeit Craven A cigarettes to her customers, is to stand trial next month.
Di Lan Wang appeared in the Half-Way-Tree Criminal Court Monday where the case against her was mentioned.
Ms Wang who operates a wholesale on Red Hills Road, St. Andrew, was charged in March by members of the Organised Crime Unit during a major crack down on fake cigarettes being sold on the local market.
More than 70,000 sticks of counterfeit cigarettes with the Craven A branding were seized during operations carried out in Kingston, Montego Bay, Hanover and Westmoreland.
<span style="font-weight: bold">Three other Chinese business operators in Westmoreland and St. James charged in the crackdown appeared in court last week.</span>
The Organised Crime Unit alleged that the Chinese business operators <span style="font-weight: bold">have been importing the counterfeit Craven A Cigarettes from China and selling them to smokers. </span>
Investigators say they are concerned about the increased health risk to smokers who purchase these fake cigarettes.
The investigators say tests have revealed that the tobacco as well as the paper used to wrap the cigarettes are of inferior quality.
Ms Wang is to return to court on June 13.