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100,000 Cuban Cigars Confiscated!

My guess, maybe one last hoorah before the upcoming undoing of the embargo??? at least wishfull thinking. :whistling: Sad to see that happen to such fine smokes. Seems like it was inevitable, not if but when. Hopefully also applies to the embargo.
 
Bluue - None of the agents would want to risk their jobs over "Christmas presents" to the family. Those packages burn very well in an incinerator. ;)

The first cc I ever had, and many that have followed, were gifts from CBP agents. Maybe it's more difficult when you confiscate on a large scale like this bust, but from my experience there are more than a few who are not only willing but happy to share what they take.

Let me know who the "friends" are that get the "hook-up" so that I can hook them up with my friends. The Postal Inspectors don't take to kindly to converting contraband. :whistling:
Snitch? on a friend even? :sign:
 
Cost of cigars confiscated in this article-----@ $1,000,000

Wholesale cost--- @ $500,000

SCHIPP tax ---- $50,000

State Tobacco taxes let's say 25% wholesale for an average---- $125,000

Ave. state and local sales taxes 8%------ $ 80,000

$255,000 in lost tax revenue in what, just one quarter? No wonder half the states are bankrupt and the fed just keeps selling itself to China.
 
Cost of cigars confiscated in this article-----@ $1,000,000

Wholesale cost--- @ $500,000

SCHIPP tax ---- $50,000

State Tobacco taxes let's say 25% wholesale for an average---- $125,000

Ave. state and local sales taxes 8%------ $ 80,000

$255,000 in lost tax revenue in what, just one quarter? No wonder half the states are bankrupt and the fed just keeps selling itself to China.

This right here sums up the idiocy of the embargo. We've been headed for fiscal insolvency for years yet the boneheaded feds let potential revenue slip through their greasy fingers. Don't get me wrong, they would just blow the extra revenue anyway, but still...I would continue my rant but it would begin to sound too political.
 
Boy, I feel for those whose orders where seized. At least its been established that there will be no fines and/or legal action. I wonder if this is the new reality. Lets hope not.
 
Huge hit for the vendors. And possibly a bigger issue:

If the gov goes after the major suppliers through mail routes they don't have to spend any of the resources investigating or launching court cases against the individuals.

:(
 
Cost of cigars confiscated in this article-----@ $1,000,000

Wholesale cost--- @ $500,000

SCHIPP tax ---- $50,000

State Tobacco taxes let's say 25% wholesale for an average---- $125,000

Ave. state and local sales taxes 8%------ $ 80,000

$255,000 in lost tax revenue in what, just one quarter? No wonder half the states are bankrupt and the fed just keeps selling itself to China.

Heck not even one quarter. This has just been since mid November. you could probably at least double this number or triple it while they are illegal and if there is a time that they became legal tax potential would be even higher.
 
Huge hit for the vendors. And possibly a bigger issue:

If the gov goes after the major suppliers through mail routes they don't have to spend any of the resources investigating or launching court cases against the individuals.

:(

For argument's sake, is it illegal for someone to ship a package to the United States with products originating from Cuba? If I understand what the articles say, the contents were clearly declared as cigars. Their actions were open and notorious in the sense they weren't attempting to defraud the government or disguise the contents. Would it not be more likely for the government to succeed in going after the American citizen who was purchasing contraband materials?
 
Huge hit for the vendors. And possibly a bigger issue:

If the gov goes after the major suppliers through mail routes they don't have to spend any of the resources investigating or launching court cases against the individuals.

:(

For argument's sake, is it illegal for someone to ship a package to the United States with products originating from Cuba? If I understand what the articles say, the contents were clearly declared as cigars. Their actions were open and notorious in the sense they weren't attempting to defraud the government or disguise the contents. Would it not be more likely for the government to succeed in going after the American citizen who was purchasing contraband materials?

Except under a very limited and controlled set of circumstances, under the embargo no US Citizen is permitted to purchase Cuban products (including cigars) regardless where the items were purchased. Cuban cigars are therefore considered "contraband" and subject to seizure. I'm sure there will not be an awful lot of traction in other countries to enforce the US embargo, however - once those items cross into US territory - well - there's now the O'Hare Airport story to illustrate the government's diligence in enforcing the embargo...

"Defrauding" or "disguising the contents" of the shipments is not what led to the confiscation. Regardless of how the package was marked, the contents are still "contraband". It would be akin to shipping marijuana, openly marking the package as such and arguing the shipment would now be legitimate for the same reasons you stated. I'm quite certain a judge might give high marks for effort and ingenuity, but would not be otherwise swayed.
 
Huge hit for the vendors. And possibly a bigger issue:

If the gov goes after the major suppliers through mail routes they don't have to spend any of the resources investigating or launching court cases against the individuals.

:(

For argument's sake, is it illegal for someone to ship a package to the United States with products originating from Cuba? If I understand what the articles say, the contents were clearly declared as cigars. Their actions were open and notorious in the sense they weren't attempting to defraud the government or disguise the contents. Would it not be more likely for the government to succeed in going after the American citizen who was purchasing contraband materials?

They probably started checking out some of the recipients and decided it would be better to just let it slide. :whistling:
 
Sorry to any brothers that got burned in this.

Honestly, after years of CC's and the quality issues they seem to have, I've bought almost none over the last couple of years. With the wonderful stuff coming out of Padron, Pepin and the like, my cigar needs have been very well fulfilled as of late. When's the last time you got a plugged Padron? And, you don't have to let them "rest" for years before they are fit to smoke.

However, the statement "....smoke what you like, like what you smoke...." still applies......B.B.S.

:thumbs: :thumbs: :thumbs:

Absolutely right!

Over the past 3 years or so the quality has consistently dwindled. I get more plugged Cubans than Dom/Nic cigars (and yes they're real). You can't go wrong with Padron, and when we have companies like Pepin and Fuente who put out excellent quality cigars, why fret over their origin? Plenty of good quality stuff that's legal. Like I've said all along, those who only smoke Cubans sure are missing out.
 
Keith,

I believe that if you are the shipper the only consequences you would face would be if US customs, or any country for that matter, contacted Canadian authorities to report a shipper that made false claims on a customs declaration.
 
Huge hit for the vendors. And possibly a bigger issue:

If the gov goes after the major suppliers through mail routes they don't have to spend any of the resources investigating or launching court cases against the individuals.

:(

For argument's sake, is it illegal for someone to ship a package to the United States with products originating from Cuba? If I understand what the articles say, the contents were clearly declared as cigars. Their actions were open and notorious in the sense they weren't attempting to defraud the government or disguise the contents. Would it not be more likely for the government to succeed in going after the American citizen who was purchasing contraband materials?

Except under a very limited and controlled set of circumstances, under the embargo no US Citizen is permitted to purchase Cuban products (including cigars) regardless where the items were purchased. Cuban cigars are therefore considered "contraband" and subject to seizure. I'm sure there will not be an awful lot of traction in other countries to enforce the US embargo, however - once those items cross into US territory - well - there's now the O'Hare Airport story to illustrate the government's diligence in enforcing the embargo...

"Defrauding" or "disguising the contents" of the shipments is not what led to the confiscation. Regardless of how the package was marked, the contents are still "contraband". It would be akin to shipping marijuana, openly marking the package as such and arguing the shipment would now be legitimate for the same reasons you stated. I'm quite certain a judge might give high marks for effort and ingenuity, but would not be otherwise swayed.

I'm not implying the contents would cease to be contraband if the contents are declared. I was more going after the idea the shipper wasn't doing anything illegal. They shipped a legal product in the origin country, declared the contents as cigars, and the customs agents enforced the embargo. The purchaser however, broke the law. The only recourse the government would have is to go after the law breakers.
 
Huge hit for the vendors. And possibly a bigger issue:

If the gov goes after the major suppliers through mail routes they don't have to spend any of the resources investigating or launching court cases against the individuals.

:(

For argument's sake, is it illegal for someone to ship a package to the United States with products originating from Cuba? If I understand what the articles say, the contents were clearly declared as cigars. Their actions were open and notorious in the sense they weren't attempting to defraud the government or disguise the contents. Would it not be more likely for the government to succeed in going after the American citizen who was purchasing contraband materials?

Except under a very limited and controlled set of circumstances, under the embargo no US Citizen is permitted to purchase Cuban products (including cigars) regardless where the items were purchased. Cuban cigars are therefore considered "contraband" and subject to seizure. I'm sure there will not be an awful lot of traction in other countries to enforce the US embargo, however - once those items cross into US territory - well - there's now the O'Hare Airport story to illustrate the government's diligence in enforcing the embargo...

"Defrauding" or "disguising the contents" of the shipments is not what led to the confiscation. Regardless of how the package was marked, the contents are still "contraband". It would be akin to shipping marijuana, openly marking the package as such and arguing the shipment would now be legitimate for the same reasons you stated. I'm quite certain a judge might give high marks for effort and ingenuity, but would not be otherwise swayed.

I'm not implying the contents would cease to be contraband if the contents are declared. I was more going after the idea the shipper wasn't doing anything illegal. They shipped a legal product in the origin country, declared the contents as cigars, and the customs agents enforced the embargo. The purchaser however, broke the law. The only recourse the government would have is to go after the law breakers.

Is the shipper doing something wrong if they know that shipping Cuban cigars into the US is illegal, even if they label the contents on the outside of the box? Hmmm.. Good question!

Certainly - I'm thinking they at least can't make any sort of meaningful case to US Customs to have the cigars returned to them.
 
I wonder how this will effect the vendors who guarantee delivery? If a vendor had a large amount of inventory confiscated, lets say $250,000 worth, are they still going to make good on their guarantee? That would be a rather large chunk of change to eat.
 
Maybe the swiss postal service will honor insured shipping? =P
 
Here's another news clip of this unfortunate tragedy.
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/video?id=7828405&syndicate=syndicate&section
 
so they say approximately 100k of them were seized, and 100k will be destroyed . . . what if they seized 102k cigars, but their official report says they only have to destroy 100k, wonder where they go?!

And did you see the way those agents were ogling those beautiful smokes, you know a lot of those 10 ct. boxes went into the burn pile as 9ct. boxes
 
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