Are Cuban cigars ILLEGAL in the USA?

[guapo337]

I know there is a trade embargo between Cuba and the USA. However, say I bought a Cuban in Britain or Canada. Would bringing it back to the USA be illegal?

As far as I know, the trade embargo simply makes trade directly between the two countries illegal. But buying a cigar in Britain or Canada would be buying a Canadian or British product.

So clue me in, are Cubans illegal in the USA? Or is it simply illegal to purchase them in CUBA and bring them back to the USA from Cuba?

 

[minendo]

http://www.customs.ustreas.gov/xp/cgov/travel/alerts/cuban_cigars.xml

Only persons returning from Cuba after a licensed visit there are permitted to bring Cuban cigars into the United States, provided the value of such cigars does not exceed $100 US dollars and the cigars are for that individual's personal use and not for resale. All other importations of Cuban cigars are illegal. All offers to buy or sell such cigars in the United States involve cigars that were imported illegally. Contrary to what many people may believe, it is illegal for travelers to bring into the United States Cuban cigars acquired in third countries (such as Canada, England, or Mexico).

 

[Jzero]

I think it's illegal to bring them into the US - no matter where they were sourced.

 

[DurocShark]

In fact, even if you were legally visiting Mexico or Canada, buy some cuban cigars, and bring them through Customs, you'll get busted.

There are a couple of brands of Mexican cigars made from Cuban leaf that are legal (because they are "MADE" in Mexico... heh).

 

[GasX]

It is illegal but I have done it coming from both England and Canada...

It's not such a high priority that they have dogs trained to sniff for them, and if you dress and act like a normal respectable human being they don't look at you when you cross through customs. Having a decent poker face helps too...

 

[Jmman]

You guys know that you can buy Cuban cigars here in the US legally, don't you? They simply have to be pre-embargo cigars. True, this makes them very expensive, but Cuban cigars are quite expensive no matter where you get them.....

 

[imported_Papi]

Yeah that suck for you guys.

I can walk to the corner store to buy one.

 

[Kevin]

I heard its real easy to get them from Canada or atleast it used to be...

 

[chin311]

who needs cubans? phillies are only like 40 cents

you only need the paper anyway jk

 

[Red]

When I went to Mexico/South Padre Island for Spring Break... I got a good buzz in Mexico (3 salty coronas in the blazing hot sun), bought 3 or 4 cuban cigars, walked em over to the U.S., that was it. Then I had them in my suitcase as well and they made it fine into the Louisville, Ky Airport.

 

[fonzinator]

Originally posted by: Jmman
You guys know that you can buy Cuban cigars here in the US legally, don't you? They simply have to be pre-embargo cigars. True, this makes them very expensive, but Cuban cigars are quite expensive no matter where you get them.....

Paris Duty Free has EXCELLENT prices on Cuban cigars. Romeo y Julieta and Punch in a corona size go for $50 a box there (25 in a box). Best deal I've ever seen, Cuban or non-Cuban.

BTW...a cigar being Cuban doesn't mean jack squat. Other than the mystique of smoking something illegal, a Cuban cigar isn't necessarily a superior smoke to everything else. There are many, many cigars from other countries that are better than plenty of Cuban brands. However...few will argue that the most superior cigars in the world (ie. Cuban Cohibas, Montecristos, ect.) are generally Cuban.

 

[Spac3d]

I have never been impressed with Cubans. I prefer Domincans.

 

[ClueLis]

A couple of my friends had wanted me to buy Cubans when in DeGaulle(sp?) Airport coming back from SPain, as I was the only one over 18 on the trip, but I didn't exactly feel like contributing to their smoking habit.

 

[DevilsAdvocate]

Originally posted by: Jmman
You guys know that you can buy Cuban cigars here in the US legally, don't you? They simply have to be pre-embargo cigars. True, this makes them very expensive, but Cuban cigars are quite expensive no matter where you get them.....

and the pre-embargo cigars are better than the new ones coming out of Cuba, IMHO. The Cuban economy is sooo dependent on cigars now that they don't put the time and effort in the process that they once did.

I think the Cuban is highly overrated. With the technological advances that the Dominicans have made, I believe that the Dominican is a better value... and a better cigar.

Just my opinion. Save the cash and stay legal.

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: ClueLis
A couple of my friends had wanted me to buy Cubans when in DeGaulle(sp?) Airport coming back from SPain, as I was the only one over 18 on the trip, but I didn't exactly feel like contributing to their smoking habit.

Cigar smoking is a hobby...not a habit.

 

[Jmman]

Crap, all of this talk makes me want to break out a Cohiba (yes from Cuba) and fire it up with a cold beer. Maybe I will break out my new golf clubs as well....


I used to do lots of business in the Bahamas, so I have a pretty good supply of real cuban cigars. As far as quality goes, it is true that the demand is greater than the supply so lots of Cuban cigars now are not very good......

 

[guapo337]

Originally posted by: Jzero

Originally posted by: ClueLis
A couple of my friends had wanted me to buy Cubans when in DeGaulle(sp?) Airport coming back from SPain, as I was the only one over 18 on the trip, but I didn't exactly feel like contributing to their smoking habit.

Cigar smoking is a hobby...not a habit.

yeah. exactly.

what are some good brands of cigars that i can buy in the US (under 20.00)? i also smoked a montecristo while in Scotland. that was good.

 

[fonzinator]

Originally posted by: guapo337

Originally posted by: Jzero

Originally posted by: ClueLis
A couple of my friends had wanted me to buy Cubans when in DeGaulle(sp?) Airport coming back from SPain, as I was the only one over 18 on the trip, but I didn't exactly feel like contributing to their smoking habit.

Cigar smoking is a hobby...not a habit.

yeah. exactly.

what are some good brands of cigars that i can buy in the US (under 20.00)? i also smoked a montecristo while in Scotland. that was good.

My absolute favorite, high-quality, inexpensive cigar are Padron. They are from Nicaragua and for the money, cannot be beat! Average cost is ~$4. Construction is excellent, even burn, smooth the whole way through. Step up to $10-$15 a cigar and you can have a Padron Anniversary Series. These cigars are boxed pressed with the highest quality tobacco Padron has. A truly exquisite smoke - always rated in the mid 90s by Cigar Afficionado.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Originally posted by: Spac3d
I have never been impressed with Cubans. I prefer Domincans.

Cubans are not what they used to be. Pre-embargo they were the best, but Cuba has serious financial troubles and cigars are a big cash crop. They don't age the tobacco like they used to and quality control has taken a back seat to production speed. It's pretty common now to find Cubans that are poorly made and use inferior young tobacco leaf. That's true even in the bigger, more famous brands like Punch, Romeo y Julieta and Cohiba. You can easily find top quality Dominican and Nicaraguan cigars that are every bit as good as, if not better than, many Cubans, legal for import and a fraction of the price.

 

[911paramedic]

It's because of the trade embargo, but Kramer knows this guy...

 

[PHiuR]

so why is cigar smoking a hobby not a habit?

 

[Jzero]

Originally posted by: PHiuR
so why is cigar smoking a hobby not a habit?

A habit implies compulsion. You can't stop easily because of some addiction.
I know few cigar/pipe smokers that have cravings. You smoke one here, you smoke one there. You might smoke daily for a month and then not smoke again for a year. You learn about the process of growing tobacco and rolling cigars, the smoking qualities of different leaves. You savor the tastes and aromas of the smoke and the leaves.

Most serious herfers collect cigars far faster than they can smoke them.

The other night, I sat on my gf's front stoop and smoked a Macanudo Vintage 1997 and talked for like 2 hours. When I kissed her goodnight and drove home, it occurred to me that most of the best conversations I have ever had were spoken through a cloud of cigar or pipe smoke.

 

[0roo0roo]

course supporting fidel is a good thing