I heard a story from my dad, who travels often on business. He was in the inspection line flying back into the US behind somebody clueless who had purchased cigars abroad.
Customs agent wanted to know if they were Cubans. Traveler was unable to say for sure. The customs agent prompted him again. Traveler didn’t know. Agent suggested that Cubans were illegal and essentially identical Dominican cigars were not. Traveler didn’t know. Agent was losing patience and told the traveler that if they were Dominican he was free to go, otherwise, he’d be pulled aside for a long inspection.
The traveler finally wised up and decided they were Dominican, at which point the customs official passed him through with an eyeroll.
The SYFY channel? Cuban tobacco plants have been smuggled out of Cuba and into several countries with similar climates and soil conditions. Could the FBI test ash residue to discover if your ash actually came from Cuba? Maybe, their techs have a pretty good reputation. Would they spend the time and money to bust your butt for having Cuban ash? Not likely unless they were trying to connect your ash to ash found at a kidnapping or other federal crime.
The BATF and FBI do not have jurisdiction outside of the U.S.. They have no authority to break into your German or French hotel room and haul you off for smoking a cuban. (That’s the CIA’s job. hehehe) It has been illegal to import Cuban cigars since 1962. However, over the decades, “deals” have been made and transactions have been ignored (winked at). If you were to “be caught” bringing a box of cuban cigars into the U.S., the cigars would probably be confiscated. You may pay a fine. You may be strip searched. Good luck with that.
If you had a box of cubans on display in your home, even if an invited guest had ratted you out to authorities, I doubt any federal authority would issue a warrant to search your home or to arrest you. But they could.
They’re popular because they’re illegal. Cigars are like any other commodity. One house may use only the best maduro or cameroon wrapper with only the finest long leaf filler but they also produce a lessor “stick” (single cigar) made up of floor cuttings and last years left over wrappers and sell it under another name. They would both be considered “Cuban” or “Dominican” etc.
Just as you could commute to work in a brand new Audi A8 or 15 year old Chevy S10. Both will get you to work and back but one would be more enjoyable. It depends on what you want and what you’re willing to (or can afford to) pay.
Top of the line Cohiba Black Label Churchills can set you back $100 for 5 (five) cigars. You can buy 60 (sixty) Garcia y vega English Coronas for about the same price.