Million Adult Smokers in LA County

Less than a million adults are smokers in Los Angeles County, a figure reached for the first time since such data were collected in 1997, according to a new health report. The report, released by Los Angeles County Department of Public Health late Wednesday, found 13.1 percent of all adults were smokers in 2011, the last year for which data were available. That is down from 14.3 percent in 2002 and 2007.

Illegal Cigarettes, Czech Smokers

Czech customs officers uncovered and closed down two plants for the illegal production of cigarettes in the vicinity of Zlin which may have deprived the state of up to 29 million crowns in excise tax, General Customs Authority spokesman Jiri Bartak told CTK Wednesday. A large modern cigarette plant was in Luzkovice village and another smaller facility was situated in the complex of former farm in Vsemina, both South Moravia. "Four cigarette production and packaging lines, over 1.3 million forged cigarettes of Marlboro and Classic brands, six tonnes of cut tobacco, 400,000 pieces of forged Moldovan tobacco labels and millions of components for cigarette production were seized at the illegal plants," Bartak said.