That part is not true. It is legal to possess them and smoke them in the US; you just can't buy or sell them here. When I'm in Canada, I frequently buy Cuban cigars. Of course, I always smoke them before coming home. ;-)
Think of it as burning their crops...
Please see post 17. You are breaking Federal law by smoking Cuban cigars, even outside of the US. I think that law is insane, btw, but that’s the actual legal situation. Like it or not.
Actually that part is true. It is against the law for an Ameican citizen to buy a Cuban cigar at home OR abroad. (Cuban Assets Control Regulations, 31 C.F.R. Part 515)
http://cigars.about.com/od/cubantradeembargo/qt/0062002a.htm?terms=cuban+cigars
Now personally, I bought my Montecristo Habana’s in Panama, but tossed them and begged for forgiveness once I was informed of the law ;-)
Love Canadian cigarettes....but have to lay down after I have one.
My dumbass niece bought a small box of cigars in Cuba a number of years ago and got busted coming back into Detroit thru customs in Windsor. One silly box! They don't mess around.
To this day she is a marked woman (convicted smuggler) and wherever she flies they automatically thoroughly search her and her luggage..........