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Last post 7 years ago by bs_kwaj. 53 replies replies.
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And then I was robbed!
bsadler Offline
#1 Posted:
Joined: 05-31-2015
Posts: 858
Had a great vacation with my beautiful wife survived the snow, flood, Mexican riff-raffs, but were ultimately robbed by the TSA. How does this relate to cigars? Well guess what they took.

That's right customs found my cigars. After I was randomly selected to be screened. They found the cigars in my bag. Since I did not disclose them they were confiscated with all cigar paraphernalia. This included my two best cutters, my two best lighters, my ten count herf-a-dor, my five count herf-a-dor and 18 cigars including two opus x. So why did they take them...? I had five Monte Cristos and according to the TSA guy Monte Cristos are only made in cuba. It is illegal to bring Cc's into the United States. I explained that they were not from cuba and were bought in the USA. I did not disclose them because you only have to disclose PURCHASES! He called me a liar because he knows Cuban products when he sees them. Then he said if I could prove they were purchased in the United States I could keep them. I showed him photos from when I got them, receipts of purchase, and tracking info that showed showed "from" and "to" locations. To which he replied "none of that is sufficient proof". I asked what he would consider proof and he replied "something more reliable". Then I admit I lost my cool a little and asked him what he knew about the fourth amendment and search and seizure. He replied "that is not relevant". The rest of our conversation is too painful to repeat but wow! I read every document they gave me and researched every thing I could think of and everything points to... this guy was an idiot.

Any ways happy travels to all
ZRX1200 Offline
#2 Posted:
Joined: 07-08-2007
Posts: 60,476
And you didn't demand a supervisor?

Or tell him you were friends with KingoftheCove?
Buckwheat Offline
#3 Posted:
Joined: 04-15-2004
Posts: 12,251
Good thing they work so hard keeping weapons and terrorists out. horse Frying pan
ZRX1200 Offline
#4 Posted:
Joined: 07-08-2007
Posts: 60,476
^ yeah how many times have they done that?
xibbumbero Offline
#5 Posted:
Joined: 01-25-2002
Posts: 12,535
Cuban cigars have the " Habana,Cuba" on the cigar band. The TSA agent should have known this.
Getting PO never helps and you should have asked for a supervisor.
Looks like this TSA agent is a thief. BTW,what airport was this? X Frying pan
KingoftheCove Offline
#6 Posted:
Joined: 10-08-2011
Posts: 7,600
ZRX1200 wrote:
And you didn't demand a supervisor?

Or tell him you were a platinum member?

Flaunting your "favored" status again eh.......
KingoftheCove Offline
#7 Posted:
Joined: 10-08-2011
Posts: 7,600
xibbumbero wrote:
Cuban cigars have the " Habana,Cuba" on the cigar band. The TSA agent should have known this.
Getting PO never helps and you should have asked for a supervisor.
Looks like this TSA agent is a thief. BTW,what airport was this? X Frying pan

+1
bsadler Offline
#8 Posted:
Joined: 05-31-2015
Posts: 858
Oh I asked for a supervisor, (that never showed up) but eventually I had to catch my shuttle and did not have time to argue.

I did not mention platinum but when he found my badge he chastised me because I should know better.
bsadler Offline
#9 Posted:
Joined: 05-31-2015
Posts: 858
The TSA agent SHOULD have known A LOT that he did not. This was so ridiculous I actually thought I was on candid camera or something. There were also two other TSA agent there that obviously disagreed with him but were not willing to challenge him.
delta1 Offline
#10 Posted:
Joined: 11-23-2011
Posts: 28,754
Officious officials...the worst public servants ... although they often are, will never admit they are wrong or incompetent...
99cobra2881 Offline
#11 Posted:
Joined: 11-19-2013
Posts: 2,472
TSA job application
Line 1
Please print your name :
Line 2
Are you a moron?
Line 3
If you answered "yes" to question 2, you're hired.
KingoftheCove Offline
#12 Posted:
Joined: 10-08-2011
Posts: 7,600
bsadler wrote:
The TSA agent SHOULD have known A LOT that he did not. This was so ridiculous I actually thought I was on candid camera or something. There were also two other TSA agent there that obviously disagreed with him but were not willing to challenge him.

I don't get why/how they were able to take the Opus, let alone your other cigars and accessories?
Isn't there any recourse here?
The Montes I can sort of understand, cause he's a moron..........unfortunately......you got the super moron........thief.
mikey1597 Offline
#13 Posted:
Joined: 05-18-2007
Posts: 14,162
Hope the agent gets deek cancer.
mikey1597 Offline
#14 Posted:
Joined: 05-18-2007
Posts: 14,162
then grows another one
mikey1597 Offline
#15 Posted:
Joined: 05-18-2007
Posts: 14,162
and that one gets dock cancer too
mikey1597 Offline
#16 Posted:
Joined: 05-18-2007
Posts: 14,162
with warts
BlueDude Offline
#17 Posted:
Joined: 01-26-2012
Posts: 1,308
Sorry to hear that B.

I'm not trying to add insult to injury here . . .

You got an A-Hole D-Bag Bully TSA for sure.
My next door neighbors are TSA (her) and a US Border Agent (him)

TSA can't confiscate cigars or cutters. AT THE DISCRETION OF THE TSA they can take your cutters.
Lighters are a DEF NO-NO. You can never bring them on a plane. Checked or carry-on.
You probably lost the return of the herfidors when you blew your cool.

There is ABSOLUTELY NO way to test if a cigar is Cuban. Remove all bands the next time you fly.

As much as I hate to say this, the Supervisor would have cleared everything up and you may have left satisfied.



Next time, lose the sandals, shave the beard, and ditch the turban.
They will leave you alone.
Palama Offline
#18 Posted:
Joined: 02-05-2013
Posts: 23,461
Total bummers!

Sounds like BSadler needs some CBid lovin'! Big Hug

There's an MFR laying around somewhere....
t33bone Offline
#19 Posted:
Joined: 10-25-2007
Posts: 27,374
BlueDude wrote:
Sorry to hear that B.

I'm not trying to add insult to injury here . . .

You got an A-Hole D-Bag Bully TSA for sure.
My next door neighbors are TSA (her) and a US Border Agent (him)

TSA can't confiscate cigars or cutters. AT THE DISCRETION OF THE TSA they can take your cutters.
Lighters are a DEF NO-NO. You can never bring them on a plane. Checked or carry-on.
You probably lost the return of the herfidors when you blew your cool.

There is ABSOLUTELY NO way to test if a cigar is Cuban. Remove all bands the next time you fly.

As much as I hate to say this, the Supervisor would have cleared everything up and you may have left satisfied.



Next time, lose the sandals, shave the beard, and ditch the turban.
They will leave you alone.

+1
bsadler Offline
#20 Posted:
Joined: 05-31-2015
Posts: 858
I apologize I have wrongfully blamed the innocent. It was not the TSA. That is who I was looking at when I was typing that post. It was customs when I was getting off the cruise ship and coming into America.

Thanks to bluedude. Your"insult to injury" is what made me double check and realize I had goofed. To be honest the TSA was actually a breeze.
cigarlover22 Offline
#21 Posted:
Joined: 06-29-2015
Posts: 490
99cobra2881 wrote:
TSA job application
Line 1
Please print your name :
Line 2
Are you a moron?
Line 3
If you answered "yes" to question 2, you're hired.


Is the TSA agents morons? Or are they smoking a couple opus cigars later on their break?!
bassman45 Offline
#22 Posted:
Joined: 07-05-2009
Posts: 4,082
Palama wrote:
Total bummers!

Sounds like BSadler needs some CBid lovin'! Big Hug

There's an MFR laying around somewhere....


So what he really is saying is that he is low?Think
tamapatom Offline
#23 Posted:
Joined: 03-19-2015
Posts: 7,381
Have you got this guys name? I wouldn't stop fighting this........assuming this is U.S. Customs. Customs and police in Caribbean countries are known for ripping off tourists and you will get nowhere. At minimum complain to cruise line.
DrafterX Offline
#24 Posted:
Joined: 10-18-2005
Posts: 98,508
Those Bassards..!! Mad
Whistlebritches Offline
#25 Posted:
Joined: 04-23-2006
Posts: 22,127
BlueDude wrote:
.

There is ABSOLUTELY NO way to test if a cigar is Cuban. Remove all bands the next time you fly.

.


Actually the Canadians developed a Cuban tobacco authenticator,a chemical test,to weed out fake Cuban cigars.This test has been around for over a decade and as simple as the process is you'd think the US would've adopted the procedure by now.
tamapatom Offline
#26 Posted:
Joined: 03-19-2015
Posts: 7,381
Next time declare on way out and keep documentation ?
Palama Offline
#27 Posted:
Joined: 02-05-2013
Posts: 23,461
bassman45 wrote:
So what he really is saying is that he is low?Think


For sure low on cutters, lighters and Herf-a-dores...and Montecristos.
Burner02 Offline
#28 Posted:
Joined: 12-21-2010
Posts: 12,861
Sorry the trip ended on a chitty note.
99cobra2881 Offline
#29 Posted:
Joined: 11-19-2013
Posts: 2,472
cigarlover22 wrote:
Is the TSA agents morons? Or are they smoking a couple opus cigars later on their break?!


I'd put the customs agent right in there with the other dishonest sumbitches that have made off with box passes from this site.
bsadler Offline
#30 Posted:
Joined: 05-31-2015
Posts: 858
bassman45 wrote:
So what he really is saying is that he is low?Think


No no no,
I have plenty. I have been the recipient of plenty of kindness around here and am not in need of anything.

I did get his name and ID number. I have already filed a "request for contact" we will see what they say.

It may not have been the perfect ending to a trip but loosing a few cigars is a small thing in comparison to a great vacation with friends and loved ones.
DrafterX Offline
#31 Posted:
Joined: 10-18-2005
Posts: 98,508
Where did this happen. .?? Huh
cigarlover22 Offline
#32 Posted:
Joined: 06-29-2015
Posts: 490
I'm coming back tomorrow from Costa Rica... I'm dreading the custom stop.... Although I don't have any illegals and I purposely left my cutter and lighter at home. I Hope they don't steal my herfs I brought with...
bsadler Offline
#33 Posted:
Joined: 05-31-2015
Posts: 858
Happened in Galvesto.
tamapatom Offline
#34 Posted:
Joined: 03-19-2015
Posts: 7,381
cigarlover22 wrote:
I'm coming back tomorrow from Costa Rica... I'm dreading the custom stop.... Although I don't have any illegals and I purposely left my cutter and lighter at home. I Hope they don't steal my herfs I brought with...

Cutters and lighters are restricted on planes but cruise ships????
SmokeMonkey Offline
#35 Posted:
Joined: 04-05-2015
Posts: 5,688
tamapatom wrote:
Cutters and lighters are restricted on planes but cruise ships????


I've had Celebrity confiscate a torch lighter before. They didn't find the other two, though.
bsadler Offline
#36 Posted:
Joined: 05-31-2015
Posts: 858
It was fine to have on the cruise ship. Every thing was "confiscated" after the cruise when I was entering the USA because I tried to "smuggle" "Ccs" into the country. They told me they took all paraphernalia because it was associated with getting illegal items into the States.
BlueDude Offline
#37 Posted:
Joined: 01-26-2012
Posts: 1,308
Whistlebritches wrote:
Actually the Canadians developed a Cuban tobacco authenticator,a chemical test,to weed out fake Cuban cigars.This test has been around for over a decade and as simple as the process is you'd think the US would've adopted the procedure by now.

Close but no cigar.

The test is for illegal cigarettes.

("Characterization of cigarette tobacco by direct electrospray ionization-ion trap mass spectrometry (ESI-ITMS) analysis of the aqueous extract--a novel and simple approach." By Lay-Keow Ng, Pierre Lafontaine, Micheline Vanier)
gummy jones Offline
#38 Posted:
Joined: 07-06-2015
Posts: 7,969
bsadler wrote:
No no no,
I have plenty. I have been the recipient of plenty of kindness around here and am not in need of anything.

I did get his name and ID number. I have already filed a "request for contact" we will see what they say.

It may not have been the perfect ending to a trip but loosing a few cigars is a small thing in comparison to a great vacation with friends and loved ones.


come for the cubans
stay for the black sludge
Buckwheat Offline
#39 Posted:
Joined: 04-15-2004
Posts: 12,251
Whistlebritches wrote:
Actually the Canadians developed a Cuban tobacco authenticator,a chemical test,to weed out fake Cuban cigars.This test has been around for over a decade and as simple as the process is you'd think the US would've adopted the procedure by now.


Or if you know your chit you can smoke it and pretty much tell if it is legit. Herfing
tamapatom Offline
#40 Posted:
Joined: 03-19-2015
Posts: 7,381
They just can't fathom the idea of taking non-cuban cigars out of country.......and then bringing them back.
BlueDude Offline
#41 Posted:
Joined: 01-26-2012
Posts: 1,308
cigarlover22 wrote:
I'm coming back tomorrow from Costa Rica... I'm dreading the custom stop.... Although I don't have any illegals and I purposely left my cutter and lighter at home. I Hope they don't steal my herfs I brought with...


Customs will be doing you a favor if they confiscate your Costa Rican cigars.
They most likely will let you pass knowing what future torture awaits.
dstieger Offline
#42 Posted:
Joined: 06-22-2007
Posts: 10,889
bsadler wrote:
I apologize I have wrongfully blamed the innocent. It was not the TSA. That is who I was looking at when I was typing that post. It was customs when I was getting off the cruise ship and coming into America.

Thanks to bluedude. Your"insult to injury" is what made me double check and realize I had goofed. To be honest the TSA was actually a breeze.


To me, this makes it even worse. One dumbazz, over-the-top TSA agent with sandy v is somehow much easier to understand....since the guy was way out of his lane to begin with. But a customs agent, who should be trained and experienced to know what is and is not contraband is unconscionable.
tamapatom Offline
#43 Posted:
Joined: 03-19-2015
Posts: 7,381
How is it that you didn't smoke them all before coming back?

We were at a location where we had to pass through the metal detector at an airport - on the way in AND on the way out. Since we were not flying we came out through the same checkpoint. The TSA agent passed us through on the way in no problem but the buzzer went off on the way out. He detained us and chastised us for bringing a knife past the security checkpoint. The response was "Sorry didn't realize it was there, would have gladly left it in the car if you stopped us on the way in"....they let us out with the pocketknife. I was worried my friend was going to lose an expensive knife.
Big_Bear Offline
#44 Posted:
Joined: 09-27-2008
Posts: 2,664
A friend of mine went through the same thing. He suspected that the confiscation was for personal use as well. He handed over the cigars, but not before he wrung them out like a towel completely destroying them. He figured that if he couldn't smoke them neither could the agent.



.
tamapatom Offline
#45 Posted:
Joined: 03-19-2015
Posts: 7,381
Big_Bear wrote:
A friend of mine went through the same thing. He suspected that the confiscation was for personal use as well. He handed over the cigars, but not before he wrung them out like a towel completely destroying them. He figured that if he couldn't smoke them neither could the agent.



.

Destroying evidence? I like.
gae9jang2j Offline
#46 Posted:
Joined: 12-13-2012
Posts: 5,612
^^ nice one. if it ever happens to me, thats what Im doing
chazbo Offline
#47 Posted:
Joined: 01-21-2007
Posts: 8,159
Glad you had a nice VK but sorry to hear your cigars stuff got taken😡
TSA matzo asswhipe 🐖
trike Offline
#48 Posted:
Joined: 10-10-2015
Posts: 38
Rule number 1. Take the cigar bands off the cigars. Impossible to prove what type of cigar is under review.
Keep the bands in another pocket, if you want to place them back on the cigar when you return home.

Sounds simple, but it works.
DAD300 Offline
#49 Posted:
Joined: 12-08-2011
Posts: 109
Security and knives...I seem to regularly forget I have a knife in my pocket.

I go back outside and find a convenient place to bury it in the ground, or a planter box. It has always been there when I get out. Even after a day in the Smithsonian Museum. The gaurds usually think it is great.

Second, if it is a court house, they all have lock ups for cops with guns...I've used those to lock up my knife as well.
stinger88 Offline
#50 Posted:
Joined: 05-29-2012
Posts: 6,574
^^never thought about stashing it. Nice
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