Bringing Habanos through U.S. Customs?

[Mr. McSquirelly]

I'm in the Provence region of France this last week and am returning to U.S. on Saturday. There are Habanos everywhere here. I want to bring some back. Will it be a problem going through U.S. Customs if I bring back 10-15 assorted Cuban cigars? Or should I buy a box at the duty free shop at the airport? Hoping for some sound legal advice from former smugglers!

 

[ZippoGeek]

Given the recently loosened restrictions on Habanos...if you declare them, I doubt there will be a problem. On the other hand, if you don't declare them and are selected for a closer look, they're going to find them. At the very least, they'll just take them. At worst, they'll sit you down for a lengthy chat and there's a potential fine involved.

 

[icehog3]

Definitely could be a problem. I'd deband them, maybe number blank bands or mark one finger bags with numbers and try it that way. More than 1/2 the time you might get through customs without a problem, but there is certainly a possibility they could get seized, and even a greater possibility in they have Cuban bands or are in original packaging.

 

[Mr. McSquirelly]

Hmmmmmmm....Thanks, guys. Sounds like the risk may outweigh reward. But so many ELs here!

 

[ar2381]

Given the recently loosened restrictions on Habanos...if you declare them, I doubt there will be a problem. On the other hand, if you don't declare them and are selected for a closer look, they're going to find them. At the very least, they'll just take them. At worst, they'll sit you down for a lengthy chat and there's a potential fine involved.

It's illegal to bring them back returning from any country that is not Cuba. More than likely, you won't get caught. However, if you declare them they will probably be confiscated. The restrictions didn't loosen in regards to bringing them back from other countries. You can only bring them back from a trip in Cuba, and only up to $100 worth.

 

[Cigary43]

As was suggested....take the original bands off and put your own on there...you can make your own bands with a slip of paper and number them and keep your own corresponding list of what is #1 and 2 and so on. Keep your record inside your checked bag(s) and when you get home slip the original bands back on. You can keep the original bands in your checked bags and not with the list you made up. I'd put the original bands inside your socks and the list in some of your dirty laundry..like those BVD's you had on in Provence for 3 days....any Customs Agent isn't going anywhere near those bad boys.

 

[Mossome]

Just curious. Has anyone ever tried shipping them to yourself from overseas? I've known of some people who bought more souvenirs than they can carry back shipping them home. Has anyone done it with cigars?

 

[Happy Idiot]

Coming to us fr canada I just declare them but remove the bands. No prob

 

[marshall9779]

I just stuck a few with bands still in behind the lining of a checked back coming back from London earlier in the year.

 

[Rupe]

I have travelled outside the US more than 40 times and have only ever been stopped by US customs once for full inspection . As long as you are not acting suspicious or nervous (or look like a hippie or a terrorist) the chances are pretty slim that you will get stopped for full inspection. I have brought CC's into the country several times and have never had an issue.

That being said, if you are worried about it, remove the bands. The worst that will happen to you is that your cigars will get confiscated. With the exception of the one guy that got caught a couple of years ago bringing suitcases full of CCs in and reselling them, I'm pretty sure that the feds have not fined or arrested anyone for bringing in a few cigars.

 

[SouthernerInSask]

Customs always asks me if the cigars are cuban when i declare them. I dont bring cc into the US, but if the bands were off, and you claim they are not cc, how would customs prove otherwise?

 

[icehog3]

Customs always asks me if the cigars are cuban when i declare them. I dont bring cc into the US, but if the bands were off, and you claim they are not cc, how would customs prove otherwise?

I've had two friends have their cigars seized by Customs while unbanded, as if it were up to THEM to prove they were NOT Cuban. Bullshit, I know, but that's what happened.

Rupe is absolutely right, most likely you won't get your baggage searched, but don't bring back anything you can't afford to (potentially) lose would still be my advice.

 

[mi000ke]

Came through customs returning from Italy a few weeks ago where I shopped at the LCDH, and when I was asked if I had any tobacco products I said "just a few cigars", and they waived me through.

 

[icehog3]

Again, I'm not saying it's "likely" your cigars will be confiscated. I'm saying it's "possible".

 

[Nacho Daddy]

get some of the absurdly large NC bands(Perdomo,,A Bradley,etc) and fit them on over the cuban bands.
put them in a plastic bag,and that in a NC box.
Then be cool.............

 

[Senor Perfecto]

I would never do this. But if I did, I would neither unband nor declare them. If they get snatched, c'est la vie. You're not going to jail or be fined. Removing the bands feels like cheating.

 

[navyvet]

I obviously never tried. But I always keep my bands boxes. You could always put those bands on cc's and bring them back that way and just put the original band back on when you get home. I would not leave the original ring on and put others on top of those.

 

[Cigary43]

get some of the absurdly large NC bands(Perdomo,,A Bradley,etc) and fit them on over the cuban bands.
put them in a plastic bag,and that in a NC box.
Then be cool.............

Done this many moons ago. Brought a NC empty box with me along with bands to match the box...buy a box of CC's and slip the bands on the gars...tell the Customs guy I have a box of crappy NC's and offer him one to which he laughed and sent me on my way. Sometimes you just have to act like you don't give a flying flock.

 

[Mr. McSquirelly]

A big thanks to all you guys here. I've decided to make a good ole American run for the border! Lol! I will be checking them and not declaring them. The advice in this thread has been awesome!

 

[HUPLVR]

Ship them to yourself expedited with sig required and you are good to go...or so I've heard