Is it illegal to bring Cuban cigars into the US?

[SubZeroX]

I'm thinking of getting some Cuban cigars for friends, but don't know whether it's illegal to do so or not. And what will happen if I get caught with them?

 

[Adul]

i believe it is

 

[crab]

I think you can bring a certain amount.

 

[Mill]

Punishable by death for treason.

 

[crab]

Here ya go

 

[DT4K]

Looks like the only way you can do it is if you are actually going to Cuba.

 

[amnesiac]

Last time I went to Mexico, I bought a few cubans, took off the labels, and stuffed them in my bag. The customs agents are REALLY "lax" at LAX.

 

[hdeck]

it is

 

[GalvanizedYankee]

The night before the embargo of Cuba. JFK sent his press secretary, Pierre Salinger
out on a shopping spree of DC for Cuban cigars. He bought 1000 of em'.

My GF brought me back some Cuban's when she went to the Grand Camen's, to visit
her son. The seller told her, "just remove the cigar bands and your good to go".
I am not recommending this, its just what she did. If she were to resell, the bands make them worth more. For me to smoke, no diff........................

 

[Mitzi]

I've got a box of Monti Cristos here (sp?) Got them whilst I was in Cuba 2 years back.

 

[Colt45]

you can get them here in canada, because our government isn't on crack, and doesnt think it's saving the world from the reds.

 

[EMPshockwave82]

it's like a $75 fine per cigar from my understanding.. that is if they catch you

 

[dartworth]

Originally posted by: Colt45
you can get them here in canada, because our government isn't on crack, and doesnt think it's saving the world from the reds.

Ahh yes...Canada...the giant economic leader of the free world.

People cross through the US just to get in that vast wasteland you call a country.

 

[GagHalfrunt]

These days most Cubans are vastly overrated and overpriced and the majority being sold are counterfeit. Cuban cigars got hammered during the late 90's cigar boom and since they were Cuba's main cash crop they pumped them out as fast as possible. The quality greatly deteriorated as young, poorly aged tobacco was processed by inexperienced rollers. The stuff that has come out of Cuba since the mid 90's is nowhere near as good as the cigars that built the Cuban reputation. Even if you do manage to buy geniune cigars instead of fakes and even if you do sneak them past customs without getting arrested you're going to be getting a product that's inferior to many legal alternatives from Honduras, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic.

 

[hevnsnt]

I brought back 6 from Ireland. The dude in the cigar store wrapped them in fancy "christmas wrapping" and told me to tell anyone who asked that they were candles. Btw: No one even asked.

 

[Jmman]

The worst they will do is confiscate them. Unless you are coming back from Cuba or the Carribean they probably won't even be looking for them. One time I went to the Bahamas and picked up a box and brought them back. The guy at customs totally searched my bag , but he missed one little compartment. I was sweating so hard!! I know how that guy felt in Midnight Express.....

 

[SubZeroX]

I am actually coming back from the Caribbean

the penalty for getting caught seems kinda tough, $55,000 fine, etc..

 

[Gravity]

Very illegal. Wait a year or so. Cuban cigars in Canada are overpriced and very dry...not good.

 

[Metalloid]

Originally posted by: dartworth

Originally posted by: Colt45
you can get them here in canada, because our government isn't on crack, and doesnt think it's saving the world from the reds.

Ahh yes...Canada...the giant economic leader of the free world.

People cross through the US just to get in that vast wasteland you call a country.

Hehe

 

[Farbio]

brought at least a dozen back everytime i've gone out of the country, and had many people bring me back some, never ever had a problem at all. hell, never even had a customs agent do so much as say 'welcome back to the states'

 

[TallBill]

heh, my grandma used to smuggle em back from cruises for gifts.

 

[waggy]

heh i have been to both Mexico and Canada. it is easy to get them across the boarder.

just take the wrapper off. only hurts if you plan on re-selling them. but i still made a good profit on them.

 

[conjur]

When I traveled to Europe back in my old job, my boss and I would get several Cuban cigars and bring them back. Just put them in our checked baggage and never had a problem.

 

[db]

Originally posted by: Colt45
you can get them here in canada, because our government isn't on crack, and doesnt think it's saving the world from the reds.

Heh.