Post #195048 by tikipedia on Wed, Oct 26, 2005 11:46 PM

How are you coming to/from Mexico? If you are flying, you can stash the rum in your baggage. You have to declare all of this to customs, but they don't always check the baggage for items. I've declared and brought back 4 bottles of Jamaican rum from Ocho Rios, and customs never even checked them. And I've known people (not me, of course) to bring back Cuban cigars stashed in baggage which customs didn't even bother to check.

If you are driving across the border, they also may not check. But if you are walking across, then that is the greatest chance they will check what you have.

BTW, I think customs changed the rules, and you can now bring 1.5 liter of alcohol per adult aged 21 or over. So if you go with a significant other and you are both over 21, you can bring back 3 liters without paying extra. One final thing, 60% of the Cuban cigars you buy in Tijuana (and I presume in many other Mexican border cities) are fakes. This was reported in the local San Diego press some years ago. I presume the Cuban rum is the real thing, but caveat emptor.