MrAnderson41
Cool Story 'Bro!
Just to confuse matters even more, aren't anti-counterfeiting operations the responsibility of the Secret Service?
Cubans and non-cubans
- Thread starter JDriver77
- Start date
burn-slow
Member
Yeah I guess they would be the correct answer but in reality I do believe that it is shared effort of both of them and includes the Treasury dept and used to have the U.S Marshall's service as the arresting agency but dont know if they still do that.
Black Plague
New Member
Being here in southern Iraq, there are "Cuban" cigars available from the local vendors.
I say that with parentheses because they are some of the laziest fakes I've ever seen. I'm talking photocopied bands from a scanner running low on ink, lol. I've tried to warn my joes to stay away from 'em, but they still get suckered in. And price-wise, they still charge you like it's a real Cohiba you're buying.
The only ones I think might even be legit are the boxes of minis and puritos (since they're cheap and involve having to counterfeit bands, cardboard packs, tax stamps, and cellophane...so probably not worth it to fake).
Whether genuine or counterfeit, they're still verboten in the US.
And for someone to suggest JDriver could just not confiscate them and should give those poor troops a break.....would you like to risk your career just so some jackass whose been told repeatedly by his command what he can and can't bring out of theatre can sneak in some counterfeit Cohibas? It's not like JDriver wrote the damn rules, but he sure as hell has to enforce them. I'd love it if I could find some real cigars and bring them back, but I'm not willing to make any NCO get an Article 15 over it.
One weird thing I heard from a customs brief: Biddies (little cigarillos from India and Pakistan...smell like dope when you burn them and taste like crap) are a US Customs no-no because they're made with child labor.
I say that with parentheses because they are some of the laziest fakes I've ever seen. I'm talking photocopied bands from a scanner running low on ink, lol. I've tried to warn my joes to stay away from 'em, but they still get suckered in. And price-wise, they still charge you like it's a real Cohiba you're buying.
The only ones I think might even be legit are the boxes of minis and puritos (since they're cheap and involve having to counterfeit bands, cardboard packs, tax stamps, and cellophane...so probably not worth it to fake).
Whether genuine or counterfeit, they're still verboten in the US.
And for someone to suggest JDriver could just not confiscate them and should give those poor troops a break.....would you like to risk your career just so some jackass whose been told repeatedly by his command what he can and can't bring out of theatre can sneak in some counterfeit Cohibas? It's not like JDriver wrote the damn rules, but he sure as hell has to enforce them. I'd love it if I could find some real cigars and bring them back, but I'm not willing to make any NCO get an Article 15 over it.
One weird thing I heard from a customs brief: Biddies (little cigarillos from India and Pakistan...smell like dope when you burn them and taste like crap) are a US Customs no-no because they're made with child labor.
tomthirtysix
Wishing I was as cool as Phil
That is odd. You'd think if that was the case, pretty much every single imported item would have been banned by now.
Black Plague
New Member
Haha, my first though was, "But I can still buy Nikes in the US? WTF?" :laugh:
JDriver77
Smoke like a Sailor
That's true, any cigarettes made through child labor are to be confiscated, that's a US customs rule as well as NAVY Customs. Kinda difficult to monitor though unless your well knowledged in brands. As for most cigars being fake, I can usually tell the difference, and believe it or not, a fair number we take are real. on top of being real, their also real DRY. I guess to someone who is unfamiliar with what condition a good cigar should be in, a cigar is a cigar and they will purchase them regardless. We do confiscate some high end Cubans ever so often, mostly from officers, pulled a sealed box of rather nice Montecristos just the other day actually.
So, guilty until proven innocent. Good old Uncle Sugar.,
MX
Some may call me....Tim?!?
Not True. They are guilty of breaking a rule that they are made fully aware of. They are told that they can not bring Cuban cigars home, and they are also told they can not bring unbanded cigars home as well. If they choose to take the bands off their cigars and make a donation to the Customs team, then that is 100% their choice.
Really, I smile every time you guys try to stick up for the soldiers, make sure to stick up for them when they return to the States, and the 19 year old returning hero gets drunk and slams his brand new car into a mini van returning from a pee-wee soccer game. I mean if you support them breaking one Law, you will support them breaking all of them right?
A bit extreme I know, but come on, all of us Soldiers understand and know and are aware of the rules we have to follow, and some of us soldiers are tasked to enforce those rules, it is just how it works...
Tim
No, I completely understand the rules you must follow. Myself and many more BOTLs also had to follow them. Not blaming the inspecting parties, just wishing such a situation wasn't necessary. Such a small luxury that causes so much stink. When I came home from Viet Nam, every time any Viet Nam veteran got in trouble, the papers always attached "a Viet Nam vet" to the offending party's name for drama's sake, like we were all crazies. It pissed me off to the point of sending a letter to the editor. I love America and am proud to be a member if its finest fraternity. Every job has it's own set of perks. I truly wish that was one of yours!
MX
Some may call me....Tim?!?
Trust me, we do too....
Tim
Tim
JHolmes763
Drinkin' the koolaid
Presumption of innocence only applies in court. Cops don't presume you're innocent when they give you a speeding ticket.
