Is taking a couple of cuban cigars into the U.S. from the UK likely to get me into trouble?

Question

I have two Cuban cigars which I would like to take with me to give as a gift to somebody in the U.S.

If I put them in my suitcase am I likely to get caught and what will happen if I do?

Answer 1

Not if you are the Governor of California.

Answer 2

It is illegal and if caught, you would most likely just have them confiscated.

John R's information is a bit outdated as Bush clamped down on the $100's worth of Cuban goods on OFAC licensed trips.  NO cuban goods can be brought back at all.

Answer 3

Probably not and if you are they will be confiscated.

Answer 4

Definitely yes. As Cuba is a threat to the security of the U.S. any Cuban cigar could undermine U.S. defence and be the precursor to a Cuban invasion of America. It's no wonder the Americans are nervous considering how they have had to endure having a mighty superpower like Cuba threatening their very existence for the last 60 years. I think the UK should ban the import of woolly jumpers lest it becomes the precursor to an invasion by Shetlanders on their famous war ponies.

Answer 5

--- Regardless of all the mumbo jumbo you hear it is strictly illegal to bring any cuban made product into the USA, including cigars.

--- The ONLY exception is if one is on a US LICENSED visit into Cuba and then and only then one may bring back no more than $100 worth and only for that person's personal use.

--- However you should note also that one single box of Havana's usually goes for well over $400 to $500 and thus you maybe bringing back 4 or 5 cigars to meet that limit.

--- I have placed quotes here from the US Department of Treasury ( See [a] in the source box ) regarding your exact question and notations fron the current Customs Rules and the "Trading with Enemy Countries Act" ( See [b] in the source box ) regarding this also.

--- This is the partial content of the advisory letter dated

June 1, 1995, from the Director of the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the Department of the Treasury:

"Only persons returning directly from Cuba after a licensed visit there are permitted to bring Cuban cigars into the United States, provided the domestic value of such cigars does not exceed 100 U.S. dollars and the cigars are for that person's personal use and not for resale. Inasmuch as all other importations of Cuban cigars are illegal, you must assume that all offers to buy or sell such cigars in the United States involve cigars that are imported illegally. Contrary to what many people believe, it is illegal for travelers to bring into the United States Cuban cigars acquired in third countries (such as Canada, England, or Mexico)."  See [a]

--- "It is illegal for U.S. persons to buy, sell, trade, give away, or otherwise engage in (or offer to 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 $50,000 per violation and, in appropriate cases, criminal prosecution which may result in imprisonment."  See [a] & [b] in the source box.

--- I took the quotes from a site called " Ashtrays Online" and I placed the url/link to that site in the source box labelled [a].

--- I also placed a url/ link for the Customs and Border Patrol Site and Page regarding importaion of Cuban cigars and the penalties for bringing even one in from third countries such as the UK.

--- P.S.  They say that almost all of cigars sold as "Cubans" or "Havanas" are actually FAKES and that virtually 90% in the European Market are fakes too.

--- How can you tell if you are looking at a real Cuban Stogie?  The following is from a site called "How Can I Spot A Fake Cuban Cigar"  I placed a link/url to their site in the source box under the mark [c].

==="A box of real Cuban cigars will have some hallmarks that you can check. There should be three marks burnt into the bottom of each box. One will read Hababo S.A. This is the mark of the official Cuban cigar export agency. Another mark will read hecho en Cuba, which means "Made in Cuba". The third mark will read totalmente a mano, which is translated as "totally by hand".

=== "Another sign that you are about to buy real Cuban cigars is the seal that wraps around the box. This should be a green-colored, official government seal. There should also be a yellow Habanos chevron situated in the top right-hand corner. This chevron has been used on Cuban cigar boxes since 1994."

=== counterfeiters have also wised up on these markings and use increasingly sophisticated methods to dupe the unsuspecting buyer. To combat the counterfeiters, some importers are now using their own security methods. In the United Kingdom, stamps such as the English Market Selection (EMS) are now in use.

=== Those are the ways to tell if the package is real but how to tell if what is inside is real? They say that some counterfeiters steal the tobacco leaf leavings off floors and then make "their own" brand Cubannos.

=== The leaves that Cuban cigars are rolled in are a big giveaway. Fake Cuban cigars are made from unblended leaves that break and fall apart easily. Most of the leaves that make up fake Cuban cigars are broken leaves that are stolen from the cigar factory floor. Look at how the cigars are rolled. If they look as if they were rolled by a three fingered monkey, don't touch them

=== Another giveaway is the size of the cigars. A box of fake Cuban cigars may include cigars of varying lengths. Ask if you can try one before buying them. Slice off the end of the cigar and see if it holds together. If it falls apart, then it is a definite fake. If the tobacco falls out of the cigar, then it is a fake Cuban cigar made up of factory floor tobacco shavings.

Answer 6

http://www.treas.gov/offices/enforcement...

Plain and simple from the source answer!

To the licensing answer:  Thats changed!

Answer 7

The fine is $200. Carry them in your sports jacket's inner pocket is the better bet. put them in the suitcase if these are those metal tubes cigar containers that look like a test tube with a s***w-on cap.

And, a cuban is a better smoke -- by far. Lucky friend you've got there.

Answer 8

Goodness! what have we come to when we have to ask such a question?  Big Brother has surely made his footprint on our freedom and liberties.

Answer 9

take off the seal, simple. they cannot ever know the country of origin if the seal is off..

Answer 10

I would take a mere commoner with you. Let THEM bring them into the country and perhaps if they get away with it you are good! If not, well them you will have to sacrifice said commoner and move away quickly. Perhaps they will even drop them in the struggle and you can pick them up and have achieved set goal? Anything is possible yes?