I know that I've never lost a single item to customs in all the years I was procuring cigars internationally, and most retailers would send out a second shipmen

I know that I've never lost a single item to customs in all the years I was procuring cigars internationally, and most retailers would send out a second shipment if the first was seized for whatever reason. Even the gray market retailers, who would buy in volume from companies with actual Habanos licenses and then sell at a discount to customers would do this. I think you're right and it was only cases where they made it extremely obvious would customs ever do something about it. Of course, it didn't hurt that the elites on both sides of the political aisle enjoyed the product.