Never heard of El Surco, but from the look of it, I'd say its probably a peso cigar made for local consumption (Bauza and Reloba are the two peso cigars you usually see...if you see any at all). Peso cigars only make it out of Cuba in tourists' hands, as they aren't made for export at all, just for the locals to puff on. I highly doubt it's "counterfeit," as who in the hell would want to counterfeit a cigar that usually only costs one Cuban peso (just shy of 4 USD cents, for those who don't know).
You say they cost a buck a piece....is that USD? Canadian dollar? Cuban convertible peso? If your relatives actually bought it for one US or Canadian buck, they overpaid.....probably just because if you're carrying dollars, the locals will inflate the price a little, since it'll still be cheap to you and, as noted before, a US or Can. dollar is worth A LOT of pesos.
EDIT: Your relatives might've used Cuban convertible peso, which is valued nearly the same as the dollar...so yet again, the locals make some money off tourists.
I'd try it out...probably isn't going to be the best thing you've ever smoked, but might still be a good yard 'gar. Hey, it IS Havana leaf after all.
