Tariffs, Taxes & Tobacco: The Pressures Facing the Premium Cigar Industry

Military Background: Mario is a retired Army Warrant Officer with operational experience in special operations and intelligence, participating in combat campaigns across the globe, including Grenada, Panama, Somalia, Afghanistan, the Balkans, Iraq, and many others.
Senior Government Roles: He served in high-ranking positions, such as the Director of the Department of Defense Counterintelligence HUMINT Center, managing espionage counterintelligence and efforts to safely recover U.S. nationals held hostage abroad.
Private Sector Expertise: Mario has provided personal and corporate security solutions for business leaders, diplomats, and ultra-high-net-worth families. He has also managed over 100 kidnap and high-risk crisis response events worldwide.
Advisory Roles: He has acted as a military and police academy advisor in various countries, including Honduras, Haiti, Ecuador, El Salvador, Colombia, Panama, and Peru.
Educational Background: He holds a Bachelor of Science in Business from the State University of New York and a Certificate in Leadership and Emergency Disaster Management from Penn State University.

S7E150
1:45:23
October 21st 2025

In this episode of the Protecting the Legacy podcast, hosted by the Boutique Cigar Association (BCA), Dr. Gaby Kafie of Kafie 1901 Cigars and Greg Free of Fortaleza y Libre Cigars dive deep into two major issues impacting the premium cigar world — the new California UTL regulations that have recently gone into effect, and the growing concern over import tariffs on handmade cigars.

Together, they unpack how these policies are reshaping business operations, distribution, and pricing for boutique manufacturers across the United States and beyond. This candid conversation sheds light on the challenges small family-owned cigar companies face — and how unity and advocacy are more crucial than ever to protect the artisanal spirit of our craft.

Protecting the Legacy

Sponsored by the Boutique Cigar Association of America (BCAA) With hosts Founder Dr. Gaby Kafie and President Armen Caprielian. For more information visit the BCAA at www.boutiquecigarassociation.com. If you are interested in being a guest on our podcast please send us an email.

(The views and opinions expressed on Protecting the Legacy are solely those of the hosts and guests, and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of the Boutique Cigar Association of America (BCAA) or any of its member companies. The podcast is sponsored by BCAA, but the content and opinions expressed on the podcast are independent and separate from BCAA and its member companies.)

Support Us

Welcome to Protecting the Legacy, a podcast sponsored by the Boutique Cigar Association. Our Association was developed to create a unified voice for small family owned boutique cigar companies. Each week we will publish a new podcast to go over topics that affect each and every one of us.

For more information please take the time to visit our website www.boutiquecigarassociation.com