Cigarette makers deny trying to hide smoking hazards

LAWYERS for the world’s leading cigarette makers have admitted that the companies sold dangerous and addictive products, but said they never conspired to hide those hazards.

The US government is suing the industry for $280 billion (€228bn) that the companies allegedly made by deceiving the public about the hazards of smoking and efforts to get children hooked.

Lawyer Dan Webb, representing Philip Morris, said the company “may have made mistakes in the past” but that they did not constitute fraud. “We’re not perfect,” he said. “The government can probably find flaws with what we do.”