Duty Free Cohibas?

[Yeahman]

I'm in Korea right now. They sell Cubans here but they're so expensive. Any chance that they'd have then at duty free stores and would allow a US citizen to take them to the US?

[SunWuKong]

don't know about duty free cigar shops in Korea, but i'm pretty sure they'll let you take back as many as a whole box without a problem.

[bluemonq]

they'll allow you to buy the cigars and board the plane because it's none of their business that the us has a trade embargo against cuba; however, if us customs decides to search your bags - and find the cigars, of course - when you come back, they'll be disposed of, and you may or may not be subject to a fine and/or jailtime. you're not a suspicious fellow and not a repeat offender so they won't fine you. probably.

[SunWuKong]

they'll allow you to buy the cigars and board the plane because it's none of their business that the us has a trade embargo against cuba; however, if us customs decides to search your bags - and find the cigars, of course - when you come back, they'll be disposed of, and you may or may not be subject to a fine and/or jailtime. you're not a suspicious fellow and not a repeat offender so they won't fine you. probably.

i have a friend that had brought back a whole box of cubans from either Jamaica or Costa Rica before. and i myself have brought back two cubans (from Thailand). of course if you don't want to risk it, then don't bring any back. but you know, it's not like there's a big sign on the cubans that says "cuban cigars". they look just like any other cigars in the US. you can't even smell the difference unless you're a regular cigar smoker.

[Yeahman]

Has anyone seen Cubans at a duty free shop anywhere?

They sell Cubans near an army base here. Ironic how the US fights Cuba on one side of the world and buys Cubans on the other side.

[bluemonq]

ironic? well, i suppose it's about as ironic as certain people deriding china and shopping at wal-mart for most of their goods :: shrug ::

[SunWuKong]

They sell Cubans near an army base here. Ironic how the US fights Cuba on one side of the world and buys Cubans on the other side.

seriously i don't know why we keep up with this embargo anymore.

[Yeahman]

I asked a native and apparently Cubans aren't legal in Korea either. But to said that Korean law enforcement is lax on victim-less crimes is an understatement.
The native's rhetorical response was "You think the US would allow Korea to trade with Cuba?"

[AngryABCGirl]

I brought back like 3 bottles of absinthe before from England. The airport in Dallas I flew into was ridiculously crowded since it was high season so they were just like "No meats right?" and I was like "'Nah dude." And that was it. I could have smuggled in drugs.

Now that you mentioned it though, I know some people who would appreciate the gift the next time I go to the US of A since I am pretty sure I can buy them here.

[thaite]

put em in your butt.

[bluemonq]

I brought back like 3 bottles of absinthe before from England. The airport in Dallas I flew into was ridiculously crowded since it was high season so they were just like "No meats right?" and I was like "'Nah dude." And that was it. I could have smuggled in drugs.
SFO used to have dogs all the time somewhere after the baggage claim; it's been a while so I don't know if they still have them there. Don't think they'd be trained to sniff out stuff like absinthe though :biggrin:

[ren28]

Cohibas are pretty good but here is a suggestion if I may...

Try the "1964" line from Padron. The taste is reallygood (but they do run about $25/ea retail). I've yet to find anything with better flavor. You won't even have to go to all the trouble of bringing them back from far away places.

[BillHoo]

I've brought cuban cigars from Jamaica to the US before.

Yes, they MAY check and you may get them confiscated, fined or jail time.

The trick is to remove the bands from the cigars. You can put the bands in your wallet. The cigars are then generic cigars.

When you get past customs on the US side, just put them back on.

Same thing with bringing cuban cigars from Canada. Other countries don't care about what you bring back to the US. It's when you hit US Customs that they make a big deal.

[Yeahman]

I found Cubans at a duty-free and brought them in my check-in luggage without any problems. Still nowhere as cheap as I've heard people get them in Cuba.
The only problem is that I bought too many and I unknowingly bought a case of them that don't come with individual cases. They're just going to waste now.

[SunWuKong]

I found Cubans at a duty-free and brought them in my check-in luggage without any problems. Still nowhere as cheap as I've heard people get them in Cuba.
The only problem is that I bought too many and I unknowingly bought a case of them that don't come with individual cases. They're just going to waste now.

oh man. you should have either bought a humidor or gave them away to your friends as soon as you got home.

[Banana]

You can also put them in a ziplock bag with a moist sponge in it.