Hey guys. For the past week I've been down in Cancun and here is a quick recap of what went down. First off, I visited all the malls and the cuban cigars that they sell are super expensive. Even the non cubans that they sell are expensive. I saw a Cuesta Rey Sun Ripened #11 for 18 bucks. I couldn't believe it. Cohibas for 28 a piece. Ridiculous!! Then I hit the flea markets and that was an adventure in itself. You couldn't believe how many people tried to sell me fake cubans. Cohibas in glass top boxes for 10 bucks. I had this lady tell me.."Senhor, they are real..just smell it" She almost shoved the cigar up my nose. I laughed and kept walking. Even at the airport..Expensive! A box of Te Amo Robustos...89 bucks...JR cigars...52 bucks. I figured they would be cheaper where they were made....NOT!! And for the final wammy!!

I flew from Newark, NJ to Memphis and then onto Cancun. No problem taking my Colibri lighter and Xikar cutter. On they way back, in Memphis, as I was going through customs, one of the TSA agents opened my wifes purse and saw the cutter and lighter in there own cases. As I was putting away my camera equipment he asked me, in a very spitefull tone of voice, "Is this your lighter?, Looks expensive". I told him yes it is expensive. He called over another agent and asked him, "He can't this on can he?" Other agent replied, "Nope, not a chance. Sorry". I couldn't believe it. I told them that I read the chart showing what can't be brought on board and I didn't see anything that said, butane lighter, torch, cigar lighter, lighter. This jackass told me to check their website. I was like...how the hell do you want me to do that...i'm in a goddamn airport. I told him that I would bleed the lighter and get the fuel out so it couldn't ignite a flame. He told me..."We don't do that here". He said that the lighter couldn't go in the cargo or in the cabin because it contained butane. But here's the funny part...he only took the lighter but left me it's case, the cutter, and the damn bottle full of butane fuel. Doesn't make sense does it? So, off went my lighter with some hick from Memphis that will probably use it to start up his bbq so he can cook up some possum balls and some racoon ass. Guys....take a cheap lighter with you are just some matches when flying out. Thanks for letting me vent.

I travel alot on business and have learned to always take a cheap lighter and cutter. I have probably flown on 50 flights this year and have had only 1 cutter confiscated, but have had maybe 6 or 7 lighters taken. My favorite was a TSA guy in Buffalo that pulled my cheap "R&J" lighter from my briefcase and said "you can't take this on board" as he slipped it into his pocket.

I've never had any problem with those items in checked luggage.

I travel alot on business and have learned to always take a cheap lighter and cutter. I have probably flown on 50 flights this year and have had only 1 cutter confiscated, but have had maybe 6 or 7 lighters taken. My favorite was a TSA guy in Buffalo that pulled my cheap "R&J" lighter from my briefcase and said "you can't take this on board" as he slipped it into his pocket.

I've never had any problem with those items in checked luggage.

For those that are interested, we are doing a Camacho Cigar trip to Camcun from October 15th - 18th.

For those of you that are interested, please contact the guys at Cigars International. Thank you and we hope to see some of you guys there.

Christian Eiroa

Christian, why you wanna do that to us?

I got 'arrested' in Cancun. Spring Break 🙂

Oh man...another great event i will probably miss...

RasDas

Joe

Yea that's a bummer, Boofa. I usually check a cheap cutter and find wood matches when I get to my destination.

It's great to know that a cutter and a can of butane are O.K. Makes me feel real safe.

I heard that about Mexican prices. Even regular stuff is getting expensive unless you go where the locals eat and shop. They can't charge $8 for a meal outside the tourist areas or they would go broke.

Cigars are stupidly outragious. I can't believe anyone would buy some of those cigars in Mexico at $20. But then again...have you been to Vegas lately. I saw Lone Wolf cigars at a kiosk in Circus Circus at $12.

You should call or get on the TSA website and file a complaint.You can also file a claim against them for reimbursement. If you want to really vent, file a complant with theit Inspector General.Hopefully, you got the TSA persons name and/or his her supervisors. They don't like to get these type of complaints and will probably do some thing about it.

As for LA10870--What this TSA agent did is called theft and a criminal offense under Title 18 of the USC Code. I also would suggest calling thre IG and complaining.

LOL! Sucks bigtime, but you sure tell it funny! Gotta try some raccoon ass one of these days...

Lost my Colibra Chancellor at the New Orleans airport the same way in April 2004. It sucked. It had the cutter (v) built in and was my favorite in the world. Bastages!!

Carlos, not only do you build great humidors,you tell a very entertaining story. I have a picture in my head of this guy with his possum balls dripping from his mouth and proudly flicking YOUR lighter. Sorry about your misfortune but I can't stop laughing! Mike

It sucks to travel now. Did you marinate the possum balls and broil or bake?

I've gotten over the fact that my lighter was taken. I've replaced it and moved on. But let me fill you guys in on something. First off, I work for Northwest Airlines. I get to see these TSA idiots at work everday. They are supposed to run each and every bag through a state of the art x-ray machine. I've seen situations where the bag is way to heavy to pick up so they will let that bag go on by without checking it. I'm glad to know that our lives and security are in the hands of these bumbling fools. Secondly, it was reported last week that there were a few TSA agents that were arrested for stealing from passenger's bags. Happened in JFK and LGA over in New York. They stole jewelry, cash, watches and yes...lighters. I'm going to send a lengthy letter and place a few phone calls with hopes of getting a check cut to me for the value of my lighter. Thanks agains guys for helping through this tragic incident.

I've had expensive lighters pulled from my luggage, and confiscated from a carry on. Explosion hazard, I was told. Now I carry cheap disposable lighters, and have NEVER had one taken.

The odds of having a lighter confiscated are directly proportional to it's bling appeal.