Let me add a thing or two. U.S.Customs has more important fish to fry than to go crazy over someone who smokes an occasional Habano. If you buy Cabs (no bands) most customs officials, if the cigars arrive unboxed and with an invoice that says Honduran or Dominican, etc., don't really care if you smoke Cuban cigars. They get pi$$ed when people assume that packages aren't being inspected, and that banded and boxed Habanos can easily slip through. They don't like the idea that people think they can slip things by them without making an attempt to disguise their purchase. Folks, Nicaraguan, Dominican and Honduran cigars are cheaper in the U.S. than almost anywhere in the world. Why would anyone ship non-Cuban cigars into the U.S.? U.S. Customs knows your "Honduran banded or unbanded cigars" are very likely Cuban, but if they don't say Cuban by box or band and there's an invoice showing non-Cuban, they let them go by. It's that simple!
Most people who want the bands and boxes want them for authentication, not smoking purposes. They want their habanos banded for reselling and trading purposes. To Customs, that's the real No-No.
If you want habanos, there are many vendors, all over the world, happy to take your money. With an appropriate invoice and no bands, all you need is money, and you can have as many habanos as your heart desires.
