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Last post 9 years ago by frankj1. 19 replies replies.
was it legal?
Mithrandir Offline
#1 Posted:
Joined: 03-17-2006
Posts: 2,152
for a cuban-american citizen to bring cc's from cuba into the us prior to this new law of $100 tob/alch?
ZRX1200 Offline
#2 Posted:
Joined: 07-08-2007
Posts: 60,476
No
Abrignac Offline
#3 Posted:
Joined: 02-24-2012
Posts: 17,217
Mithrandir wrote:
for a cuban-american citizen to bring cc's from cuba into the us prior to this new law of $100 tob/alch?



Basically, American citizens are prohibited from possessing most items of Cuban origin

from Cigar Afficiondos web site:

The laws that make up the embargo are quite explicit. Under the authority of the Trading With the Enemies Act, the Cuban Democracy Act, additional amendments to TWEA and the Cuban Assets Control regulations, it is unlawful for an American to purchase any product of Cuban origin in a third country or to bring any product of Cuban origin back to the United States. If an individual (mostly journalists and academics) is granted a visa for travel to Cuba, he is allowed to bring back $100 in merchandise, which may be up to 100 cigars, provided he can find any that cheap.
Thunder.Gerbil Offline
#4 Posted:
Joined: 11-02-2006
Posts: 121,359
Mithrandir wrote:
for a cuban-american citizen to bring cc's from cuba into the us prior to this new law of $100 tob/alch?


This same $100 limit on licensed trips to Cuba and only for personal consumption existed prior to 2004.
Mithrandir Offline
#5 Posted:
Joined: 03-17-2006
Posts: 2,152
ok......so, according to TG, one could bring up to $100 of cigars into the us, post embargo.....acoording to this, not much has changed. am i missing something?
Thunder.Gerbil Offline
#6 Posted:
Joined: 11-02-2006
Posts: 121,359
Mithrandir wrote:
ok......so, according to TG, one could bring up to $100 of cigars into the us, post embargo.....acoording to this, not much has changed. am i missing something?


Nope, you're not missing anything. All they did was back off the additional merchandise restrictions that were put in place under GWB.


Here is the archived OFAC document from 2004. See the second paragraph.

http://www.docstoc.com/docs/6163272/Cuban-Cigar-Laws
Mithrandir Offline
#7 Posted:
Joined: 03-17-2006
Posts: 2,152
thanks TG....i never knew that....so i would be cool bringing $100 of cc's into us 5 yrs ago....who woulda thunk?Think
Thunder.Gerbil Offline
#8 Posted:
Joined: 11-02-2006
Posts: 121,359
Mithrandir wrote:
thanks TG....i never knew that....so i would be cool bringing $100 of cc's into us 5 yrs ago....who woulda thunk?Think


No, not even close. On 1 August 2004 they implemented a complete ban. The amount anyone could bring from that point forward was ZERO. 5 years ago was 2010, right in the middle of the total ban.

Prior to 1 August 2004, if you were engaged in licensed travel to Cuba, you could bring back $100, but you had to buy the items IN Cuba, and only for personal consumption. Sale, trade or transfer of this merchandise was still illegal. It was still illegal to purchase or otherwise acquire/posses or bring back any amount from 3rd party countries (ie Germany, UK, Mexico etc. - anyplace where Cuban cigars were legal). The same ban applied for internet/phone/mail orders.

Now, today, as of January 2015, things are basically back to what they were prior to August 2004.
Mithrandir Offline
#9 Posted:
Joined: 03-17-2006
Posts: 2,152
now i really get it......ty
JadeRose Offline
#10 Posted:
Joined: 05-15-2008
Posts: 19,525
Except tie rod guards, right? I could bring those in. The Cubans make the best tie rod guards.
rfenst Offline
#11 Posted:
Joined: 06-23-2007
Posts: 39,100
JadeRose wrote:
Except tie rod guards, right? I could bring those in. The Cubans make the best tie rod guards.


I have two sets that I bought from a European vendor. Luv 'em!
danmdevries Offline
#12 Posted:
Joined: 02-11-2014
Posts: 17,124
What embargo?
Buddha Daddy Offline
#13 Posted:
Joined: 01-25-2003
Posts: 2,999
danmdevries wrote:
What embargo?


Exactly Applause

Stupid gubmint
tonygraz Offline
#14 Posted:
Joined: 08-11-2008
Posts: 20,175
I remember running to get to customs and catch a second flight that was waiting for us. I had a tubo from a Cuban cigar I had smoked at the Cancun airport in my shirt pocket and when I took it out of the pocket to show the customs officer it was empty he said - we aren't concerned with a couple of Cuban cigars. It was kinda like speeding- a little over the limit is usually ignored.
Thunder.Gerbil Offline
#15 Posted:
Joined: 11-02-2006
Posts: 121,359
JadeRose wrote:
Except tie rod guards, right? I could bring those in. The Cubans make the best tie rod guards.


Yep. Page 7, paragraph 3 exempts tie rod guards from all restrictions.
midmofan Offline
#16 Posted:
Joined: 04-25-2014
Posts: 1,108
My Canadian relatives have always brought in CCs through customs with no problem. This may not be what the regulations say, but the border people have always told them that if for personal use or a gift its no problem, just cant sell them. It HAS been a couple years since they visited however, so who knows now.

Everyone here should marry someone who has relatives in Canada that like giving gifts :)
Thunder.Gerbil Offline
#17 Posted:
Joined: 11-02-2006
Posts: 121,359
midmofan wrote:
My Canadian relatives have always brought in CCs through customs with no problem. This may not be what the regulations say, but the border people have always told them that if for personal use or a gift its no problem, just cant sell them. It HAS been a couple years since they visited however, so who knows now.

Everyone here should marry someone who has relatives in Canada that like giving gifts :)


The law only applies to US citizens, both here and abroad. With the exception of the licensed trip to Cuba, being in another country doesn't mean it's legal for a US citizen to posses Cuban cigars while in that country.

The law does not apply to foreign passports entering the US. A Canadian, German, UK, etc citizen can bring in Cuban cigars up to the limit of what customs allows for tobacco, be it 20 cigars or 350g or some dollar amount, I don't know what the limit is.

What sounds like the opinion of that CBP agent is not an uncommon viewpoint. The law is succinctly clear about US citizens not being permitted to possess Cuban cigars, it doesn't matter if they were brought in legally as the possessions of a Canadian (or whatever) BUT it's just that almost no one gives a **** about a measly handful of cigars, and how are they going to track it or even know? They won't.
Buckwheat Offline
#18 Posted:
Joined: 04-15-2004
Posts: 12,251
Embargo, what a joke.fog
frankj1 Offline
#19 Posted:
Joined: 02-08-2007
Posts: 44,211
origin of the word embargo (in reverse):

some old fish story about ships being boarded and goods confiscated as the crew said...

"o grab me"

sumptin like that
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