And this is Miami. If you could get a Cuban cigar anywhere with relative ease, Miami would be the place. So let the buyer beware. This guy will hand another guy a cigar and say, 'Yeah, it's Cuban,' and you know it's not. It's a Dominican band.
Tobacco is stolen from the factory.
If you open a box of Cuban cigars, the top row will be exactly the same color. The U.S. Customs Service doesn't care if cigars are factory produced or back-alley specials that jam up after the first three puffs. If they come from Cuba, they are probably illegal. It's also illegal for travelers to bring in Cuban cigars they purchased in countries that trade with Cuba. Holstein said he's been to Cuba twice as a journalist.