Cuban cigars

[jbond]

I enjoy a cuban cigar every now and then, and bringing back a few for me and my friends is not what I consider smuggling.John

If it's not smuggling, then what is it? Just a few good old boys having some fun? You need to get past the denial stage.

 

You have a lot of nerve to make mention of the law. Anyway, I don't owe you, or anyone else for that matter an explanation.

John

The original poster asked if it was against the law. Guess what, it is. Obviously you don't owe me an explanation. But, if you ever get caught, you will certainly owe the US Government one, and I hope that you are as responsible then as you profess to be on these boards.

I am completely responsible for my own actions and rightfully so.

I have never been politically correct in my life, and this is definitely not one of those occasions. I just have a problem with people that break the law and brag about how easy it is. If you wish to smuggle contraband, that's your choice, but please don't post that you have done it 11 times with no problems, especially when the original poster was asking

I have a somewhat dumb question. Hubby's boss wants us to bring him some Cuban cigars back from our cruise to the Southern Caribbean. Is this legal?

I have never smoked. I have always felt that a cigar and a cognac or fine rum, my personal preference, would be so good after a grand feast. I tried it many years ago and it was, to put it mildly, a disaster, so much so that it ended my attempts to participate in the "good life" . So, may be I'm the unfortunate one and have been deprived of a great experience, but until Cuban cigars become legal imports into the US, please refrain from encouraging people to smuggle and break the law by telling them that you have done it so many times and didn't get caught.

[ktwood]

My husband and I went on our honeymoon to Negril, Jamaica in 2003 and they told us we could bring back 5 cubans per person, so we did and even declared it on our customs sheet. They looked at it and said nothing.

[jbond]

My husband and I went on our honeymoon to Negril, Jamaica in 2003 and they told us we could bring back 5 cubans per person, so we did and even declared it on our customs sheet. They looked at it and said nothing.

 

 

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.

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.

 

This is from the US Customs webpage, traveller advice. What do you think their #1 tip was?

 

Ten tips for a speedy passage through U.S. Customs

 

1. Don't rely on friends and shopkeepers for advice on what items "will clear Customs"; instead, obtain this information directly from the U.S. Customs Service.

 

 

Guess you were lucky.

[Mrs Butterworth]

...... please refrain from encouraging people to smuggle and break the law by telling them that you have done it so many times and didn't get caught.

 

I travel five to ten miles over the speed limit on the highway everyday and have never gotten caught. I don't want to encourage anybody else to try that BUT, we're all adults here capable of making our own decisions and living with the consequences.

[Chucksta63]

Well to each his own! I am going on vacation and paln on having at least 1 of thoes bad boys maybe 2. I guess I am still a rebel at 40+. thanks for the info. P.S. I still speed too at times. I am planing on trying some of that Jamacian stuff too. Will I bring any of this back? I guess I'll never tell. Remember what your parents said, do as I say not as I do.:p

[vijoge]

I have a somewhat dumb question. Hubby's boss wants us to bring him some Cuban cigars back from our cruise to the Southern Caribbean. Is this legal?:confused:

 

No, this is not legal.

 

Can it be done? Yes, possibly, maybe, or probably, depending on who you ask. Would I risk jail time to bring them back for someone else? Hell no!

[Bequia]

I travel five to ten miles over the speed limit on the highway everyday and have never gotten caught. I don't want to encourage anybody else to try that BUT, we're all adults here capable of making our own decisions and living with the consequences.

 

Couldn't agree any more Mrs B. ;)

[CruiseForever]

jbond................lighten up, it's one on the more stupidest rules that the government has ever "not tried" to enforce. I've seen MANY people bringing back Cuban cigars. For the most part, most customs expectors will allow these to pass, as long as it's not boxes for resale. When they x-ray your hand luggage or stowed, it is easy to see the fact that you have cigars.

 

They let it all usually pass. In fact, in Aruba I overheard one passenger being told that even importing alcohol is much more lienent when passing through customs in Aruba than arriving in the US. American residents pass customs in Aruba, Bermuda and one other place instead of on US soil now.

 

Relax, there is no jail time for "smuggling" Cuban cigars for personal comsumption. Don't let , jbond over alarm you.

[CruiseForever]

If your really worried, just remove the band.....they couldn't tell the difference between a Cuban, Dominican, Jamaican or Honduran cigar if they wnated too.

[jcruise67]

Well to each his own! I am going on vacation and paln on having at least 1 of thoes bad boys maybe 2. I guess I am still a rebel at 40+. thanks for the info. P.S. I still speed too at times. I am planing on trying some of that Jamacian stuff too. Will I bring any of this back? I guess I'll never tell. Remember what your parents said, do as I say not as I do.:p

 

I hear ya Chucksta!!! I too will vacation til my hearts content, and I'm not usually content until I have one of those bad boys either.

 

jbond...Wow man...are we a little stressed? Maybe you need a good smoke. This is a cruise board where we come to share our "Cruise Experiences" and have a good time with other previous and future pax. There really is no need to flex here...we're all happy cruisers.

 

John

[jbond]

If your really worried, just remove the band.....they couldn't tell the difference between a Cuban, Dominican, Jamaican or Honduran cigar if they wnated too.

You really can't be serious, or can you? So, you are going through customs and you have a box/several cigars without bands on them, and the customs officer asks are they of cuban origin? What happened to the bands that every cigar ever made has on them?. This is how we bought them. Gee that's how they came, or may be this stupid customs agent doesn't know a cuban cigar from a hole in the ground. You can't be so naive, or can you? So far you haven't been caught. When you do get caught, please, please don't complain about your fine/jail time.

 

Originally Posted by jcruise67

I enjoy a cuban cigar every now and then, and bringing back a few for me and my friends is not what I consider smuggling.John

Because you didn't respond, I guess that you consider it just a good old boy thing.

[Bequia]

xxxx

[Nliedel]

Is it legal? no. Do people do it? Yes.. your life, you have to deal with you. If you think it is worth the risk then don't let anyone tell you what to do. If you get caught take the consequences knowing they are out there. No coming back here and whining cause they were all taken by customs. :)

[CruiseForever]

jbond............Hey, your in California, why don't u stop by for a visit and share a good Cuban cigar with me.

 

You can buy hand made Dominicans wrapped in front of you without any band and there is no custom agent alive that could tell you where the tobacco came from. I have no idea what your motive is here, you really need to chill. I have people who work for me that visit Cuba every year and always bring back good ciagrs directly from Cuba.

[Mrs Butterworth]

JBond, Isn't it ironic, the character your screen name and animated signature refers to smokes.....yes, you guessed it....CUBAN cigars!

[jbond]

I have people who work for me that visit Cuba every year and always bring back good ciagrs directly from Cuba.

I think that one of the peculiarities of the law is that it is legal to bring them into the US if they were purchased in Cuba. It's only illegal if you purchased them in another country.

 

"Don't attempt to return with Cuban cigars unless they were purchased in Cuba (on authorized travel)." Quote from cdp.gov

 

JBond, Isn't it ironic, the character your screen name and animated signature refers to smokes.....yes, you guessed it....CUBAN cigars!

The character my screen name refers to isn't a US citizen and Great Britain has no similar embargo on Cuban products. The real jb however smoked cigarettes, in the book "Casino Royale" it claimed he smoked 70 a day. It's just this flopsy Irishman that smokes the cigars.

 

I have no idea what your motive is here, you really need to chill.

I am fascinated by posts where people openly boast about breaking the law, and where the punishment can be very severe. Plus I'm retired and the weather hasn't been too good, so it's either watch TV or play on the computer. When the good weather returns, I'll be busy outside and you'll all be able to post about smuggling to your hearts delight without me interfering.

[Bassnote_1]

There was a shop keeper in Cozumel who offered to reband and rebox them for me if I bought enough. then put the bands in your luggage. I didn't do this, but it is tempting... no?

[BobBeaSea]

Is it illegal for Americans to take Cuban cigars back to the States?- sad to say it is. I can't even begin to tell you how many Cuban cigars enter the U.S. from all around the world including Canada. For those who are concerned about it buy cigars made in the Dominican Republic; almost as good. For jbond- China is a repressive, Communist regime yet tens of billions of dollars of Chinese goods are entering the U.S. every year, so much so that it is harming the U.S. economy Millions of dollars of Vietnamese goods enter the U.S. every year- last I checked it was still a Communist country. Are there "good" and "bad" Communist countries or just those that can't be gotten over?

[vijoge]

Is it illegal for Americans to take Cuban cigars back to the States?- sad to say it is. I can't even begin to tell you how many Cuban cigars enter the U.S. from all around the world including Canada. For those who are concerned about it buy cigars made in the Dominican Republic; almost as good. For jbond- China is a repressive, Communist regime yet tens of billions of dollars of Chinese goods are entering the U.S. every year, so much so that it is harming the U.S. economy Millions of dollars of Vietnamese goods enter the U.S. every year- last I checked it was still a Communist country. Are there "good" and "bad" Communist countries or just those that can't be gotten over?

 

What ???? A voice of reason??? :)

[Chucksta63]

I'm still going to smoke one and drive fast to. I hear they have good coke too! lol just kidding "jbond" easy on me now.:rolleyes: I crack my self up at times.:)

[CruiseForever]

Hey jbond........I drove faster than the speed limit today, and even got in the car pool lane without a passenger with me...........

 

 

VIVA CUBA!!!!

[jbond]

Hey jbond........I drove faster than the speed limit today, and even got in the car pool lane without a passenger with me...........

 

 

VIVA CUBA!!!!

Our SIL is a traffic cop in Westminster, I'll have look out for you.

[rebeljohn]

cruiseforever....... Were you were smoking a Cuban while speeding in the HOV lane?

[jbond]

Cruiseforever, I have a deal for you.

We will be sailing out of LA in September on the Coral Princess. We will be having dinner at the Crab Pot in the LB Marina. I think the date is the 19th September. If you want to show up, I'll buy you dinner, and of course your better half. There'll be myself, Moneypenny, of course, our SIL the cop, his wife and our two grandkids, along with my brother and his wife.

The Crab Pot is pretty good and it has a patio where you can smoke. My SIL would probably like to meet you, smoke wise, not speeding or driving in the carpool lane wise. Your decision. If you decide to take me up on my offer, I'll give you my email address next post.

[cs]

LMAO!!!

 

Since we're all confessing here, I sometimes continue to cross at cross walks even after the sign tells me to stop.....