Heed Laws ON Cuban Travel
<H3>Letters</H3><H1>Heed Laws ON Cuban Travel</H1>
Many stories in travel magazines suggest that the U.S. embargo on travel to Cuba does not apply to U.S. citizens entering Cuba through another country. But I learned the hard way that there is a great deal of misinformation about the laws that restrict travel to Cuba.
In February 1995, I flew to Nassau and purchased a tour from a Bahamas travel firm that provided a round-trip ticket to Havana, a hotel room, airport transfers and breakfast. Shortly after my return, I wrote about Cuba for a local newspaper. My agency then made travel arrangements through the Bahamas for several people who wanted to go to Cuba, and I again traveled there with a group of local businessmen.
In July 1995, agents of the U.S. Customs Service and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement served a federal search warrant at my travel agency, authorizing them to seize records relevant to travel to Cuba. I had three computers seized, along with some files, and had to hire computer consultants to restore my system.
I became the target of a grand jury investigation, and my attorneys were informed that I might be indicted for "trading with the enemy." I paid thousands of dollars in attorneys' fees. In the end, the U.S. Attorney's Office agreed not to prosecute me if I used my best efforts to help educate others so they might avoid the experience I had.
Here are the facts: Unless you secure a license from the Office of Foreign Assets Control, you violate federal law if you travel to Cuba, even through a third country. Typically, business travelers rather than tourists qualify for this license. Unlicensed travelers also cannot pay for transportation, lodging or meals in Cuba, or bring Cuban goods back to the States, without a license.
The penalties are up to 10 years in prison, $1 million in corporate criminal fines and $250,000 in individual criminal fines, and civil fines of up to $50,000 per violation.
<I>David Bradach
President
All-American Travel Club
Naples, Fla.