OK someone please tell me what the deal is with Cubans.

I may have a chance to travel out of the country soon and was planning on bringing a few back. I had been told that you could bring back something like $100.00 worth or a “personal use” amount i.e. less than a box.

But I read now that the restrictions were recently tightened to eliminate this and that there is now no way to get any Cuban cigars into the U.S. without risking fines and imprisonment.

Yet I see time and time again pictures and threads here of people getting them all the time.

Some one please tell me what is the deal.

U.S. Customs states...

"Prohibitions on Cuban Cigars

The revival of interest in cigars and cigar smoking underscores the need to remind the public of the prohibitions that have been in place for many years with respect to cigars of Cuban origin. The number of attempted importations of Cuban cigars into the United States is rising and because dealing in such cigars may lead to Treasury enforcement actions, the public should be aware of — and make every effort to observe — the prohibitions which are in effect.

There is a total ban on the importation into the United States of Cuban-origin cigars and other Cuban-origin tobacco products. This prohibition extends to such products acquired in Cuba, irrespective of whether a traveler is licensed by Office of Foreign Asset Controls (OFAC) to engage in Cuba travel-related transactions, and to such products acquired in third countries by any U.S. Traveler, including purchases at duty-free shops. Contrary to what many people may believe, it is illegal for travelers to bring into the United States Cuban cigars acquired in third countries, such as Canada, England, or Mexico.

Importation of Cuban-origin cigars and other Cuban-origin tobacco products is prohibited whether the goods are purchased by the importer or given to the importer as a gift. Similarly, the import ban extends to Cuban-origin cigars and other Cuban-origin tobacco products offered for sale over the Internet or through a catalog.

It is also illegal for U.S. persons to buy, sell, trade, or otherwise engage in transactions involving illegally-imported Cuban cigars. The penalties for doing so include, in addition to confiscation of the cigars, civil fines of up to $55,000 per violation and in appropriate cases, criminal prosecution which may result in higher fines and/or imprisonment.

These prohibitions are applicable to all goods of Cuban origin and are an important element of the comprehensive program of economic sanctions against the Cuban Government which have been in place since 1963. Those sanctions have had the support of the last seven Administrations.

The U.S. Treasury Department, Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), administers the embargo of Cuba. Suspected embargo violations may be reported telephonically to OFAC Enforcement Division at 202.622.2430 or via facsimile at 202.622.1657."

Folks who import Cuban cigars are doing it illegally. Myslef included. We risk fines and imprisonment. You cannot bring ANY Cuban products into this country anymore. Period.

That being said, buy them, remove the bands and take them out of the box and bring 'em back as Dominican. No one will know but you.

I have heard a few stories from people that have gotten caught with a few cubans in their possession. While they were not prosecuted, you can guarantee they would never do it again, and convinced me that I wouldn't either.

Dave

even though it's illegal...smoke them while you're there, leave them there and enjoy a peaceful entry into the united states and a plethora of excellent domestics.

IMHO it's like any other law that you choose to live by. I know it's against the law to speed, but I do it anyway. I know it's against the law to jay-walk, but I do it anyway. I know it's against the law to purchase cuban products, but I do it anyway.

Wow Thom...you are quite the rebel for a woman!

LOL....(oh I just crack myself up!)

in my world that's called

"the 50,000 dollar guestion"

i have been abroad

and it is my understanding that even over there

it is against US law to smoke a cuban

aiding and abetting and all that

Cubans are illegal......never smoke them.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHH YOU DONT HAVE TOO TRAVEL TOO GET EM!!!!??????? THE REALITY IS #1 There different! #2 They carry a mystic because there illegal!!!!!!! sorta like Adam & Eve- the curiosity of the unknown and the temptation too get away w somthing your mom warned you about!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Plenty of sites out there that ll get em too ya if you want em!!!!!!!!!????????????????? just be careful and use a repututable merchant, which you can ask around here for some good advice!!!!!!??? Majority of em arent a whole lot different then retail for Whats legal!!!!!!!!!! meanin $$$$$$$$!!!!!! AS YOU WERE SMOKE ON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! JOE!!!!

Buy a box of PAMs or a box of Davi Mileniums or Diamond Crowns or Avo LE or try and get a box of Opus X....90%+++ of every Habana cigar out there is cheaper than any of these 'domestics'.

How about a 93 CA rated Habana Belicoso for under $6 a stick---still sound like Habanas are a lot of $$$$$$$?

Cubans can be bought in Canada. Ya just can't bring them across the border. Sad, but true. It doesn't matter what it is. You can't bring anything made in Cuba into the US.

I think the days of these policies are numbered. When Fidel Castro joins El Che in that great revlucion' in the sky, the US will probably seek to normalize relations with Cuba. I'm sure big business will push for this.

SO, hang in there. The Cubans are comin'. Just don't know when.

Something for thought...

When you buy a hat from the Gap or anywhere else it comes from a country other than the U.S. That country does business with Cuba. Therefore, the U.S. is technically doing business with Cuba.

WTF

Anyone who has them on this board lives outside the US.