Guyman1966 Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 This past weekend I had the pleasure of visiting the Rio Grande region of South Eastern Texas. During my visit we crossed over into what is probably the only safe border town left to visit, Nuevo Progreso, Mexico. Man, this place is strange! The town has not changed since the 1960’s. It reminded me of Tijuana back when I was in college. However, there was one big difference. In the 1980’s Tijuana was a young party town. Back then most everyone walking over the border was college aged or 18 year olds looking to get their drink on in clubs and bars. Today in Progreso the crowd is all retired US citizens. They cross the border for discount pharmaceuticals, inexpensive dental care, cheap souvenirs and to buy booze. While walking around we entered a huge store that sold everything. Let’s call it “G’s”. They even had a small humidor stacked with “Cuban” cigars. It really only took two seconds to realize that these were suspect. Attached, please find some sample pics of the cigars. Judge for yourself. Many red flags to choose from before you even look hard at the cigars. It might be difficult to see in the pic, but the tobacco wrappers were more grey then brown. I also included a pic of the town. I looked in a few more shops and found the same suspect items for sale. I almost purchased a box to have as a conversation piece. It cost $15.95 USD. I am glad I did not. As we are heading back over the bridge we waited our turn to drive our car up to the checkpoint. I stayed quiet as the driver presented our passports and answered the agent’s three questions. 1. Did you purchase any medication? 2. Did you purchase any alcohol? 3. Did you purchase any tobacco products? My travel companion answered said, “NO, we purchased a pair of cowboy boots and had lunch.” I should add at this point that the agent was not the friendliest US Customs person I have encountered. I am sure that being assigned to the Mexican border is extra stressful. Anyway, after my friends answer the Customs agent snaps and yells across the car at me, “HOW ABOUT YOU, YOU PURCHASE ANY MEDS, ALCOHOL OR TOBACCO?” I was caught off guard and must have hesitated every so slightly with my polite “no” response… because I guess he did not like it. The next thing we know we are pulled to the side and they are going through my stuff and the car (we went straight from the airport to Mexico so I had my bags). In the past I have been very cavalier about traveling back from Mexico often with a few legit Cuban cigars. I was so happy that I passed on the suspect cigars. I’m sure that this guy was having a bad day and would have loved to bust chops. Realistically they probably would have just confiscated the cigars, but who needs the extra aggravation! So, lessons here for me; 1. Nuevo Progresso is a cool place to visit. 2. Lots of good deals on pharmaceuticals and other stuff. 3. Pass on the cigars. 4. Crossing at a border town is nothing like the airports. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DONSVO Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 Glass tops and cellophane. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stogieluver Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 Is this a joke or am I missing something? Maybe I'm not getting the humor. I'm just back in from a "business" meeting/dinner, and I've had a few, so, please excuse me, and please explain this further for me before I comment. "Suspect cigars"? Really?? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Gargett Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 i remember being in costa rica and approached by some guys with cohibas and a glass top. we had the usual discussion - they are fakes, no, yes, no, yes. blah blah blah. then the blokes just smiled and said yep, fakes. conceded we could spot them (glass tops - not that hard). after that, to my surprise, we had a long and interesting conversation about them selling fakes, where they got them, the number of people who bought them. quite bizarre. and possibly slightly off topic. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
El Presidente Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 Nice to see Montecristo now in a glass cabinet presentation 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rckymtn22 Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 Ah the infamous mexican glass tops! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Overproof Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 Point 2. "Good deals on pharmaceuticals and other "stuff"" Are you the real Walter White or something? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rye Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 My god, are the pharmaceuticals as badly faked as those cigars? Scary thought Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cigar Connoisseur Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 Lol, am I the only person who want these "just because"... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dara Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 I thought banana leaves went black but guess if you catch them at the right stage they stay grey ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cigcars Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 Gosh - just $15.95 for a box of those "collector's items"!!? Uhhh --oooohh...somebody STOP me!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post planetary Posted March 9, 2016 Popular Post Share Posted March 9, 2016 The ultimate brother-in-law cigar. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warren Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 From the photos it looks like it was sucked sideways. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxcjs0101 Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 NIce looking glass top boxes Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blazer Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 So as a newb this in an honest question. Has there ever been a glass/plastic top presentation for any Cohiba? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TCContender Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 Nice to see Montecristo now in a glass cabinet presentation Look at the time it will save you to appraise all of these as seconds thirds. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoeyW Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 So as a newb this in an honest question. Has there ever been a glass/plastic top presentation for any Cohiba? Nop! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rckymtn22 Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 So as a newb this in an honest question. Has there ever been a glass/plastic top presentation for any Cohiba? Only the Mexican faux cohiba Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GavLew79 Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 Only the Mexican faux cohiba Coign a new phrase: Fauxhiba. Rhymes with Cohiba. Means "shitty fake cigars"! ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
irratebass Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 You're all wrong, those aren't fake! Those are all legitimate....such haters! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
btp1979 Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 Awesome, I have long wondered where all these were coming from. Now I know and have a new bucket list destination! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laficion Posted March 9, 2016 Share Posted March 9, 2016 Hi all, They are sooooooo fake but It dosen't matter does It, they will always sell to New Smoker's. What's worst, the buyers really believe that they made a great deal on the Cohiba's. Poor guys!!!!!!!! Guy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guyman1966 Posted March 10, 2016 Author Share Posted March 10, 2016 Awesome, I have long wondered where all these were coming from. Now I know and have a new bucket list destination! From your info, looks like its not 2 far from you. After 2 hours I was ready to go. But, I can see how someone can kill a day there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guyman1966 Posted March 10, 2016 Author Share Posted March 10, 2016 Hi all, They are sooooooo fake but It dosen't matter does It, they will always sell to New Smoker's. What's worst, the buyers really believe that they made a great deal on the Cohiba's. Poor guys!!!!!!!! Guy You are right! Folks just don't know what they are buying and believe its real. As a policy, living in FLA I come across "suspects" all the time. I learned early on to just respectfully decline and move on. It is just not worth my time or energy to get into it. I'll just get pissed off and really there is no upside for me. Shoot.... its not my lifes work to educate people who want to believe they have a real Cuban cigar in their possession. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guyman1966 Posted March 10, 2016 Author Share Posted March 10, 2016 My god, are the pharmaceuticals as badly faked as those cigars? Scary thought I'm told that as much as 25% of pharmaceuticals purchased there are "fake." I have no way of knowing and have never made any purchases. However, my 70 year old friend swears by the generic Viagra he buys there (its not an image I like to dwell on LOL). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now