A Cuban was detained at an airport in Spain for allegedly smuggling cigars for Santeria, after the authorities found more than 200 cigars in his luggage.
Customs agents checked the suitcase of the young man, who has been living in the European nation for several years, and were surprised to find four packages with a total of 224 cigars and several boxes of cigarettes, according to a video published on Facebook through the channel Discovery Latin America.
When asked what he would use the merchandise for, the traveler replied that it was intended for religious work linked to Santeria.
“The cigar is smoked and the saint is smoked,” he explained to the curious agents.
He clarified that it was not about the famous cigars Cuban exportables, but those that are sold in bulk on the island for two pesos.
The Civil Guards detained the young man and assured him that transporting cigars was not illegal as long as he carried the authorized quantities, no more than two boxes or 50 units.
In that case, they gave him the option to leave with that amount and leave the rest of the cargo at the airportor sign a smuggling act, which carries sanctions, one of which could be paying the remaining seven boxes of cigars at the sale price in the European nation, 100 euros each.
“Even if you declare this, you cannot pass it, it is a very large amount, there are nine cigar boxes and he cannot pay the price of the same, which have a very high value in the market,” they explained.
“Paying this amount will cost you about 700 euros,” the guards clarified.
The Cuban traveler opted for the confiscation of the merchandise, and stated that he had been in Spain for two years, during which he was unable to work for the first eight months and had not had a good time, he explained.
