Los Cabos Alert: Never Bring These 10 Banned Items in Your Luggage

Share The Article

LOS CABOS, MEXICO – The plane has landed, and the iconic desert-meets-ocean landscape of Los Cabos is finally in view. You’re moments away from the vibrant energy of Cabo San Lucas or the tranquil charm of San José del Cabo. But first, one final checkpoint: Mexican customs at Los Cabos International Airport (SJD).

While countless visitors pass through daily with nothing more than a friendly “Bienvenidos,” a surprising number of vacations hit a serious snag right at the finish line. A simple, honest packing mistake can quickly escalate into long delays, confiscated belongings, and hundreds or even thousands of dollars in fines.

Don’t let that be you. The Cabo Sun has meticulously reviewed the official 2025 federal regulations and sifted through countless traveler forums to bring you the definitive, no-nonsense list of the 10 items most likely to get you flagged by customs officials this year.

---

1. Vapes and E-Cigarettes
Topping the list of customs headaches is the absolute ban on vapes. A federal decree makes it strictly illegal to import any and all electronic cigarettes, vaping devices, and their liquids or components. It doesn’t matter if it’s for personal use; they are prohibited.

• The Mistake: Thinking, “I’ll just tuck it into my carry-on for personal use.”
• The Consequence: Officials are actively searching for these in all luggage. They will be confiscated on the spot. Worse, you can face significant fines that can easily exceed $1,000 USD. Don’t risk it.

---

2. Prescription Pills Not in Their Original Bottle
Carrying medication for a health condition is fine, but how you pack it is critical. Mexican law requires that all prescription drugs must be in their original, pharmacy-issued bottle with the prescription label clearly showing your full name.

• The Mistake: Consolidating pills into a daily organizer or a simple Ziploc bag to save space.
• The Consequence: An unlabeled bag of pills is an immediate red flag. Best case: it gets thrown away. Worst case: you’re escorted to a back room for a very long and stressful interview.

---

3. Common Decongestant Cold Medicine
Your trusted allergy or sinus medicine from home could contain an active ingredient that is banned in Mexico. Specifically, over-the-counter medications that contain pseudoephedrine (the “D” in names like Sudafed-D or Claritin-D) are not allowed.

• The Mistake: Tossing your usual cold medicine in your bag without checking the active ingredients list.
• The Consequence: Confiscation and a stern warning. Stick to basic cold and allergy formulas that do not list pseudoephedrine as an ingredient.

---

4. A Single Stray Bullet or Casing
This one is not a mistake; it’s a potential felony. Bringing any firearm or ammunition into Mexico without a nearly impossible-to-obtain permit from the Mexican Secretariat of National Defense is a serious federal crime.

• The Mistake: Using a bag you previously took hunting or to a shooting range and overlooking a single forgotten bullet—or even just a spent casing—in a side pocket.
• The Consequence: This is not a fine. This is grounds for immediate arrest and potential prison time. Triple-check your bags before you pack.

---

5. Over $10,000 USD in Undeclared Cash
It is perfectly legal to bring large amounts of cash into Mexico for your trip. It is illegal not to declare it.

• The Mistake: Carrying more than the equivalent of $10,000 USD (in any currency) and failing to fill out the proper customs declaration form, often out of a mistaken belief that declaring it will cause issues.
• The Consequence: The issue is failing to declare it. This can result in fines of 20-40% of the total amount or, in serious cases, seizure of all the money.

---

6. All CBD and THC Products
While cannabis laws are changing in the U.S. and Canada, it is federally illegal to bring any product containing THC or CBD into Mexico. This includes gummies, oils, vape pens, and lotions, regardless of whether it’s for medical or recreational use.

• The Mistake: Assuming that because it was purchased legally at home, it can be brought across an international border.
• The Consequence: These products are treated as illegal drugs by federal authorities. This can lead to detention, fines, and very serious legal trouble.

---

7. Fresh Fruit or a Homemade Snack
That healthy apple you packed for the flight or the leftover sandwich you forgot to eat is considered prohibited agricultural material. Mexico has very strict rules to prevent foreign pests and plant diseases.

• The Mistake: Forgetting to dispose of any fresh fruits, vegetables, meat, seeds, or dairy products before you deplane.
• The Consequence: An agricultural inspector will find it during the bag scan and it will be confiscated and destroyed. Eat it on the plane or leave it there.

---

8. More Than One Carton of Cigarettes
Mexico’s duty-free limit for tobacco is specific and strictly enforced. Each adult is permitted to bring in 10 standard packs of cigarettes (200 cigarettes total).

• The Mistake: Assuming a full “carton” from a duty-free shop is always compliant (some contain more than 10 packs) or simply bringing more than your personal limit.
• The Consequence: You will be forced to pay a steep tax on every single cigarette over the limit, or you will have to forfeit the excess.

---

9. Your High-End Drone
Getting that perfect aerial shot of Land’s End sounds incredible, but bringing a drone into Mexico is a bureaucratic minefield. Drones weighing over 250 grams face strict regulations and potential import taxes.

• The Mistake: Packing your new drone without researching the complex and often changing rules for flying and importing them.
• The Consequence: Customs agents have the discretion to flag you and demand you pay a significant import tax (often up to 19% of the drone’s value) before they will allow it into the country.

---

10. Too Many Electronics
The general rule is one laptop and one tablet per person. While this isn’t always enforced with extreme prejudice, a bag full of new-in-box or multiple similar devices will raise suspicions that you intend to sell them.

• The Mistake: Traveling with your work laptop, your personal laptop, a tablet, and other high-value electronics that look like more than personal use.
• The Consequence: You can be flagged as a potential importer and be required to pay an import tax on the extra devices.

---

By being aware of these common pitfalls, you can ensure your arrival in Los Cabos is smooth, efficient, and stress-free. Pack smart, declare what is necessary, and get your vacation started the right way. Happy travels!