FOR nearly four decades, Cuba's Fidel Castro has defied a bungled invasion, failed assassination attempts, a trade boycott and everything else Uncle Sam can throw his way.
When all else fails, Washington has little choice but to hit him in just about the only place he can still be hurt - his stogies.
While it is fair to say Dr Castro is probably rather amused by a massive police swoop on illicit Cuban-cigar sellers in the United States, there is a distinctly bitter ambience hanging in the smoke-filled rooms frequented by Manhattan's rich and powerful.
Proprietors of two swanky establishments, Patroon restaurant and the men-only Racquet and Tennis Club, have been arrested on charges of buying several thousand Cuban cigars and illicitly selling them to customers. Clients looked on aghast as agents swooped on the walk-in humidors and carried off boxes of supposed contraband.
Agents also nabbed four high-profile executives, including a senior Chase Manhattan bank honcho, for buying the banned smokes from a seller who had turned FBI informant.
While it is common knowledge that buying or importing Cuban cigars violates the Trading With The Enemy Act, it is estimated that thousands of US tourists try to smuggle a few stogies back with their luggage when they travel abroad to countries which sell them. Overseas tobacconists also ply a profitable mail-order trade, sending Cuban cigars to US clients disguised as other brands.