Pistols, Dakota’s
and cigars in Nicaragua
After I had recorded the video interview with
Derek Harris which appeared in last month's
issue of UK Cigar Scene, Derek and I headed off
for a very pleasant and relaxing lunch. Over a
bottle of claret a few more of Derek amazing
stories started to emerge.
One which particularly took my fancy was his
story of opening up of the Nicaraguan cigar
industry. Back in the 1970s the UK cigar industry
was under financial restrictions in terms of the
number of cuban cigars which could be imported,
so there was always an interest in finding new
cigars from other areas.
Melbourne Hart was approached by a Nicaraguan
cigar manufacturer making the original Joya de
Nicaragua cigars and having sampled some Derek
placed what he described as ‘a very tidy order’
with them. Some 6 months later word came from
Nicaragua that the cigars were ready to ship
however, there was a problem. The controlling a
government led by the formidable General Samoza
were reluctant to release the cigars until they had
‘a piece of the action’.
Derek describe how he made himself as he
described it ‘Very important’, packed his
suitcase and headed for the Nicaraguan capital
Managua. When he arrived he was shown into
the Presidential underground bunker where,
sitting on a floodlit raised platform was President
Samoza himself. Derek described a huge man and
a very daunting character.
However being a businessman, the ‘deal was done’
and sealed with a handshake. The President then
asked Derek if he would like to go to see his cigars
in Esteli and put at his disposal the Presidential
Dakota.
As a parting comment he warned Derek that he
should sit with his back to the wall in restaurants
and handed him a pistol and a box of cartridges.
Derek and his local fixer boarded the plane and
headed for the tobacco fields in Esteli. When they
arrived they checked and approved the cigars and
sat down to a meal and a drink. By the time they
had finished it was too dark for the Dakota to take
off. The President had anticipated this and had
sent three Presidential Mercedes up to Esteli to
bring Derek back to the capital.
He and his fixer climbed into the middle
Mercedes and ask the driver if by any chance he
had anything that they could drink. The driver
produced half a bottle of Chivas Regal, plastic cups
and some ice and they relaxed in the back of the
car as they headed back towards the capital.
Some way down the road a car quietly slipped
between the first and the second Mercedes and
another between the second and third cars.
Suddenly there was a crack and a bullet whistled
through the windscreen and between the two men
sitting in the back seat. Instantly the passenger in
front seat of Derek’s car pulled out a sub-machine
gun and shot out the tyres on the car in front. The
passenger in the r ear most Mercedes did the same
to the second car and as Derek put it “they took off,
driving hell for leather and in the process spilling
our whisky”.
They drove on at speed to a local petrol station
where is Derek describe it they manage to get
another cup of ice.
Just another working day for a cigar company
executive in the 1970’s.
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