It also does not apply to tobacco products made in the United States and already tax-paid. This means U.S. tobacco products bought before leaving the United States can be brought back into the country when returning from overseas travel, officials said. Not even the smallest quantity of U.S. tax-exempt tobacco products can now be brought back into the United States. No exemptions can be applied to these restricted tobacco products, they said, nor can the U.S. Customs Service accept offers to pay the tax. If they are not declared they can be seized, and penalties could be assessed.
Criminal penalties are also possible.
Navy ships are still able to maintain bonded stores with U.S.-tobacco products in them, but the crew can not bring those cigarettes ashore.