question about illegal cigars

**mithril** · 06-04-2005, 08:31 PM

is it illegal to own a illegal cuban or just illegal to purchase them?

**ggiese** · 06-04-2005, 08:55 PM

Originally Posted by mithril

is it illegal to own a illegal cuban or just illegal to purchase them?

Depends on interpretation.

Definitely illegal to purchase - no matter what - ANYWHERE (even a US citizen outside of the US cannot purchase a Cuban).

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.

Theoretically - not illegal to own, but it's debatable. It certainly would be difficult to establish where it came from, how it came into your possession and whether or not it was truly Cuban. I'd say that it would be wise not to broadcast you've got them so you don't have anyone asking those questions...

The good news is, I don't think anyone's going to come and break down your door looking for them - unless you're into big time importation of them...

**mithril** · 06-04-2005, 09:57 PM

ok, that's what i thought.

**8-5-8** · 06-09-2005, 11:58 AM

Originally Posted by ggiese

Definitely illegal to purchase - no matter what - ANYWHERE (even a US citizen outside of the US cannot purchase a Cuban).

Fortunately for me, the nice Bahamian lady in the duty-free shop didn't seem to mind where I was from. Even managed to get a couple Romeo No. 2's back through customs.

I highly recommend spending a week in Nassau...

**ggiese** · 06-09-2005, 01:22 PM

Originally Posted by 8-5-8

Fortunately for me, the nice Bahamian lady in the duty-free shop didn't seem to mind where I was from. Even managed to get a couple Romeo No. 2's back through customs.

I highly recommend spending a week in Nassau...

You got cash in hand in the Bahamas and they'll sell you whatever you want!!! I'm so sure that Customs officers are staking out the local Tobacconists at all of these places to prevent US citizens from purchasing and smoking them.

Just wait - it'll be a few more years and we'll be up to our eyeballs in Cubans when they lift the embargo. Then everyone will be wondering what the big deal was... I still think that, while they are nice, Cubans are not the BEST cigars out there anymore. Many of the Dominican, Honduran and Nicaraguan cigars are kicking a$$ these days. But there is this temptation to smoke them because you can't get them... I know Castro was really worried about that a couple of years ago when the quality of their cigars was slipping...

**Drake** · 06-09-2005, 01:34 PM

Originally Posted by ggiese

You got cash in hand in the Bahamas and they'll sell you whatever you want!!! I'm so sure that Customs officers are staking out the local Tobacconists at all of these places to prevent US citizens from purchasing and smoking them.

Just wait - it'll be a few more years and we'll be up to our eyeballs in Cubans when they lift the embargo. Then everyone will be wondering what the big deal was... I still think that, while they are nice, Cubans are not the BEST cigars out there anymore. Many of the Dominican, Honduran and Nicaraguan cigars are kicking a$$ these days. But there is this temptation to smoke them because you can't get them... I know Castro was really worried about that a couple of years ago when the quality of their cigars was slipping...

you think there will be cigars with cuban mixed with other tobacco in cigars when the embargo is lifted?

**ggiese** · 06-09-2005, 01:40 PM

Originally Posted by Drake

you think there will be cigars with cuban mixed with other tobacco in cigars when the embargo is lifted?

That would be interesting... We'll just have to see. The Cuban government has been pretty anal about their cigar production, and will probably protect their product by ensuring top quality control by not exporing their tobacco unless it is in their cigars. Plus, they don't have a HUGE crop of tobacco - probably just enough to meet their domestic cigar production. But it would be interesting if one of the big cigar makers purchased Cuban tobacco and put it in their blends. It would be especially interesting of someone got a hold of Cuban wrappers, and put them on premium cigars!!! Ooohhhh - that could be great!!! I could see Davidoff doing something like that!!!