Cuban cigars tempt U.S. shoppers to Mexico

[El Presidente]

Cuban Cigars Tempt U.S. shoppers to Mexico

June 12, 2011 10:42 PM

By ILDEFONSO ORTIZ, The Monitor

Walking through the streets of Mexican border towns like Reynosa or Nuevo Progreso, tourists can find a treat that is not allowed in the United States.

Blowing a cloud of smoke, U.S. tourist Marco Ramirez said he doesn’t know much about cigars, but he sure enjoyed having a cold beer and a fat Cohiba Cuban cigar during his visit to Nuevo Progreso.

"This is a nice little vacation," Ramirez said. "I’m having a good time, and I get to try new things."

When asked about the cigar, Ramirez said he had never been attracted to them, but he felt the lure of trying something he can’t get back home in Atlanta.

Satisfying that curiosity is the reason Ramon Valles has a few boxes of Cuban cigars in a small wooden cabinet in a little stand on the main street of Nuevo Progreso. The stand also holds serapes, hats and other tourist souvenirs.

"They say they can’t get them over there, but here they can," Valles said.

While he typically sells the cigars at $4 to $5 a piece, occasionally tourists will buy a small box of five or even one of the large ones with anywhere from a dozen to 36 sticks.

The issue with those cigars comes when tourists want to take them home, said Rick Pauza, spokesman for U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

"It is illegal to import Cuban cigars or any other commodity because of an existing trade embargo between the U.S. and Cuba prohibiting all items made over there," Pauza said.

Despite the ban, Pauza said CBP officers seize the Cuban imports at least once a month at various international bridges in the area.

"Generally if the person declares the cigars, we seize them because they are prohibited, but we don’t issue a penalty," he said. "When they don’t declare them … then the penalty varies (depending) on the amount of cigars seized."

The fines can range from $500 to $1,000.

While some tourists have tried to remove the cigar rings or place other labels in order to hide their country of origin, that strategy often doesn’t work because CBP officers look at several factors to spot any indicators of smuggling activity when processing bridge traffic, Pauza said, adding that officers are looking out for any prohibited items.

If any cigars make it past the ports of entry, enforcement falls on the hands of state and local authorities. The Monitor checked with a number of local police departments, but none reported having come across a cigar smuggling case.

For those seeking the thrill of trying a Cuban, cigar connoisseur Elvia Espiritu recommends purchasing them in Mexico ��" not from street vendors, but from a reputable cigar store.

Espiritu manages Casa Petridis, a McAllen cigar store with a long history tracing back to Mexico in the early 1900s.

She said there is much more to cigars than just selling them.

"You can buy a cigar a week for 10 years and still not experience and learn all there is to the world of cigars," she said. "Each cigar is different. The leaves used to make it give it its flavor. They are hand-rolled and the technique used to roll them plays a role in the temperature of the cigar when it’s burning. That also plays a role in the experience of enjoying one."

During the 1960s, many of the old cigar-making families left Cuba and moved to other Caribbean countries for political reasons, Espiritu said. The families took their techniques and their leaves with them, but the Cuban government also kept their old factories open, she said, explaining why there are Cuban and Caribbean versions of many of the famous cigars such as Cohiba, Romeo Y Julieta and others.

When asked about the cigars being sold on the streets in Mexico, Espiritu said the way the cigars are kept says a lot about their quality and at times their authenticity.

"You must love your cigars," she said. "You need to keep them in a humidor away from light and take special care of them to keep them from drying out."

If a cigar dries out, it loses the oils in the tobacco leaves that give it its special flavor. A real Cuban cigar would sell for about $15 to $40 in Mexico. Similar cigars made in other areas, such as the Dominican Republic, would sell for the same amount.

"You basically get what you pay for," Espiritu said. "That is why here, we have three machines running 24-7 making sure that the cigars have the right amount of moisture because if we didn’t, we would have thousands of dollars in cigars go to waste."

When Valles, the cigar vendor in Mexico, was asked if his cigars were actual Cubans, he replied they were ��" but became defensive.

When asked why he didn’t keep them in a humidor, he said he didn’t have one.

When asked about the prices, he said he was able to find them at good prices in order to keep the tourists happy.

[investandprosper]

Haha, love the vendor's answers at the end

[sloth]

the glass top boxes are air tight man... no more questions!

[Dbone]

Good read, thanks Pres

[cigarroverzulu]

Haha, love the vendor's answers at the end

Gotta peddle the turds to the Gringos for mucho ...Amego!!!

[cigarroverzulu]

I hope you like dried out turds!!!

[Dourowino]

cohete de perro!!

[gigabyte056]

The dealer of the cigars seems like a real humanitarian....

It is not only dirt cheap, it's actually dirt...

[Scdalak]

It is more likely to be shot or kidnapped in those border towns than purchasing an authentic Cuban. Those locations are "muy pelligroso" Been there done that for work many times..

[IcedCanuck]

...When asked about the cigars being sold on the streets in Mexico, Espiritu said the way the cigars are kept says a lot about their quality and at times their authenticity.

So does this mean the blokes selling cheap CCs on the beaches, out of their scorching hot non-humidified backpacks, are really selling knockoffs? I'm shocked Whenever I go to a tropical place I am always surprised of the amount of people I see buying cigars off these chaps.

[FireDigger]

Nuevo Progreso, what are the chances? That's actually just across the border from my mother-in-law's house. About two years back, they still have some legit Cohibas in three and five-packs at the duty free shop. However, the last time I went into town around November 2010, they don't carry them any more. As for the street vendors, obviously, they have fakes. However, I was surprised when I asked a shopper if there were any Cuban cigars in town, the man answered no.

[brian1]

The timing of that article is interesting. You could give me free tickets to mexico and I wouldnt go there now. Way to dangerous for Gringos to be walking the streets these days.

[PigFish]

Never mind people dying on the boarder almost daily. Vast areas of land now restricted for Americans due to drug running activities... farmers being targeted... etc and so forth. We had better stop some bloke from buying what is likely a fake cigar and bringing it back to impress his friends next time he is charing some burgers at the park.

What stupidity!

[Cletus]

The timing of that article is interesting. You could give me free tickets to mexico and I wouldnt go there now. Way to dangerous for Gringos to be walking the streets these days.

I'll take the free tickets! I love traveling to Mexico and never fear for my safety. Of course, being a tourist, I only visit tourist areas like Puerto Vallarta and Playa del Carmen. And I don't engage in any illegal activities (except enjoying Habanos). Easy peasy.

Let the cartoon bears preach it:

"Not going to Puerto Vallarta because of something that’s happening in a border town would be like not going to Philadelphia because there is crime happening in Chicago."

[IcedCanuck]

I'll take the free tickets! I love traveling to Mexico and never fear for my safety. Of course, being a tourist, I only visit tourist areas like Puerto Vallarta and Playa del Carmen. And I don't engage in any illegal activities (except enjoying Habanos). Easy peasy.

"Not going to Puerto Vallarta because of something that’s happening in a border town would be like not going to Philadelphia because there is crime happening in Chicago."

I've been to Mexico a couple times and am heading back there again in October. I stay in the tourist areas, don't engage the locals, and definitely avoid ALL illegal activity. As long as you don't venture off the non-tourist parts and keep your nose clean you'll be ok.

[Puros Y Vino]

I've been to Mexico a couple times and am heading back there again in October. I stay in the tourist areas, don't engage the locals, and definitely avoid ALL illegal activity. As long as you don't venture off the non-tourist parts and keep your nose clean you'll be ok.

Agreed. I've been there 3 times in the past 18 months. The AI's are pretty secure. The people who work on them work hard and always break out a sincere "Hola" and a smile. They want you there.

[kyee]

Here's a picture I took while in Mexico this past December. Tons of vendors selling these all over the place. I felt sorry for all the gringos buying them up.

[First Lady]

Hope you bought up heaps of the Cohiba Piramides honey

[gigabyte056]

Yes, they have the special limited edition glass top box, been looking for these everywhere

[cigcars]

Here's a picture I took while in Mexico this past December. Tons of vendors selling these all over the place. I felt sorry for all the gringos buying them up.

Wow! Gee, I even see Romeo & Julieta glass stops!

[laficion]

I'm sorry to have to say this kyee but, whoever buys these and call themselves cigar smokers

plus with all the info available today, well,

they deserves them.