14 replies to this topic

[handogg]

I crossed into US w/ a pack of Cuban cigars to hand out to my friends... it turns out if I can bring more I can profit enough to pay for my TJ trips.  What's the story on them?  Are they illegal to possess, illegal to bring into US?  Is it as bad as certain fruits brought into US or as bad as illegal drugs?  If they find them do they confiscate them.. do they write me a ticket.  What's the scoop?  Thanks.

[Klort]

The price of Cuban cigars are far better in Spain and Cayman Islands than Tijuana.

Oh, and if you get caught, and they think you're planning on selling them to others, the penalty is much higher. If it's just one, they'll throw it away in front of you and tell you not to do that again. I am not sure what the penalty is for bringing in at least a couple boxes...

[Scooby]

Perhaps Gitmo-ization or even extraordinary rendition.

[jonerich]

Most of but not all of the "Cuban" Cigars you find in TJ are fakes they (Cigar shops) will take a Cheap Honduran or Nicaraguan grown from Cuban seed or something similar and just put the Cuban band on them Cohiba, Montecristo, Partagás, Romeo y Julieta, Hoyo de Monterrey, H. Upmann, José L. Piedra. (Street vendors) may just get a te amo or any other cheap mexi brand and add the Expensive band if your into cigars you will know what to look for. Most tourists however wouldn't know the difference between the two. It's a impulse buy with the wow factor of i can buy a Cuban Cigar!!!.

peace

[handogg]

you will know what to look for.

What am I looking for? Does anyone know what the penalty is for crossing the border w/ them?

[jonerich]

well it's considered contraband i am sure cigars are the least of their worries but if you get a real dickhead customs agent (Rookie looking up) they will take them and fine you or more (thats for a couple) technically they are a controlled if you have a couple of boxes they will arrest you and put you in the system and every time you cross that border you will be sent to secondary. not worth it. IMO

[jm0501]

What am I looking for? Does anyone know what the penalty is for crossing the border w/ them?

UP to 10 years

The purchase, importation, transportation or otherwise dealing with merchandise outside the US if that merchandise is:
(1) of Cuban origin;
(2) is or has been located in or transported through Cuba;
(3) is made or derived in whole or in part from articles which are the growth, produce, or manufacture of Cuba, is illegal and punishable by a fine of not more than $50,000 or imprisonment of not more than 10 years a fine of not more than $50,000 or
imprisonment of not more than 10 years

There is a way to import have Cuban cigars into the US

According to the U.S. Treasury Department,
you can only bring Cuban cigars into the United States
if you are returning directly from Cuba and your visit
to Cuba was licensed.
Examples of those who can be licensed to visit Cuba include the following:

* Politicians
* Cuban Americans
* Journalists
* Legitimate researchers
* Athletes
* Religious groups

Other requirements are:

• The domestic value of the cigars cannot exceed $100
• The cigars must be for personal use and not for resale

So if you get caught,

1.Hope you have a officer that understands the Cuba law is draconian and tells you to get lost.
1.(a) not much chance of that because like my Dad's best friend used to say if they where smart enough to understand a enlightened argument they wouldn't be doing the cop thing.
2.Hope the prosecutor isn't proud of their almost 100% conviction ratio.
2.(a) by the way studies show that between 7% and 25% of convictions are actually Innocent of the crime they are convicted for.

Personal that scares the crap out of me.
I think you will get a better deal from the Tijuana police

So use your own judgment.

JM

[George Costanza]

I've seen custom officers confiscate Cuban cigars twice before. Nothing happened to the people trying to bring them across but I wouldn't try it.

[bajashrink]

The port of entry inspectors will just confiscate small quantities and not do anything else.

I'm a premium cigar aficionado also, and don't purchase the habanos sold in Baja because they're over-priced. When I don't go to Cuba myself, I have friends who go there on vacation and bring me back some. However, Mexican customs only allows 28 cigars per person now.

There are quality Mexican puros from la Valle de San Andreas that are almost as good as the habanos. Quality, not-too-overly priced Dominicans and Hondurans are available at the cigar shops in SD.

In Tijuana there are two good shops with walk-in humidors on Revolucion that sell legitimate habanos, and Sanbournes sells legitimate ones also, although not humidified.

Just never buy any from the tourist souvenir shops. They're just cheap Mexican cigars with counterfeit Cuban bands on them.

There are also a few good shops with humidors on the main boulevards of Rosarito and Ensenada.

[George Costanza]

Agree with Bajashrinks post on the cigar places and it's funny when you walking downtown and a vendor trys to sell the cigars and goes down to 5 dollars for the cigars after asking 10 or 15 each.
Not sure what real Cubans go for but doubt they would discount the real ones that much.

[Klort]

$5? No, try $25 per Cuban. That's the going rate for a real one.

Spain, for some reason, has it far cheaper than the other European countries. Something about a special relationship between Havana and Madrid.

[bajashrink]

$5? No, try $25 per Cuban. That's the going rate for a real one.

Spain, for some reason, has it far cheaper than the other European countries. Something about a special relationship between Havana and Madrid.

Cohiba's are the Rolls Royce of cigars, and about the cheapest you'll find in Baja for a medium-size is $18.00. The other habanos vary in price in relation to brand, length, and ring gauge size. I've seen some little genuine ones as low as $5.00 each.

The special relationship between Cuba and Spain is due to Fidel & Raul's father having been a Galician immigrant to Cuba, making the Castro Bros. citizens of Spain. What little private enterprise exists in Cuba mainly consists of Spanish-owned 5 star tourist hotels and resorts that are allowed decent income tax breaks.

[Scooby]

....... Spain, for some reason, has it far cheaper than the other European countries. Something about a special relationship between Havana and Madrid.

Or one reason might be that Spain in effect told the USA to kiss it's backside on it's economic blockage on Cuba and has been investing quite a bit for some time in the Cuban tourist industry. It seems that it would probably be more politico-economico and less paisano but I could be wrong.

[Klort]

Cohiba's are the Rolls Royce of cigars, and about the cheapest you'll find in Baja for a medium-size is $18.00. The other habanos vary in price in relation to brand, length, and ring gauge size. I've seen some little genuine ones as low as $5.00 each.

The special relationship between Cuba and Spain is due to Fidel & Raul's father having been a Galician immigrant to Cuba, making the Castro Bros. citizens of Spain. What little private enterprise exists in Cuba mainly consists of Spanish-owned 5 star tourist hotels and resorts that are allowed decent income tax breaks.

I admit guilt in selecting only the Cohibas... Wasn't thinking here.

That is interesting!

[Klort]

Or one reason might be that Spain in effect told the USA to kiss it's backside on it's economic blockage on Cuba and has been investing quite a bit for some time in the Cuban tourist industry. It seems that it would probably be more politico-economico and less paisano but I could be wrong.

Spain does seem to be the biggest investor.. I know Havana's got the Melia chain.