Robbed by Customs in Ecuador

[motomon]

A good friend suggested that I seek help on HU.
Ecuador customs took my '18 V-Strom XT at the border in October when I tried to escape. I've been trying to get it back using mostly incompetent lawyers ever since.
Back story: I rode in from Perú as a tourist in January 2020, only to be trapped with closed borders due to Covid-19. During the months of "imprisonment" I explored getting a resident visa to stay, which I got, but without permission for my moto because the gov't discriminates against foreigners from bringing in vehicles so the dealers can sell more.
For 2+ years I paid 3 different lawyers to nationalize my moto so I could sell it for needed $, while I kept it stored. Gave up and tried to escape last October.
Finally found a good lawyer (the 3rd) who went to Aduana with me. End result is they'll either fine me much more than I paid for it 4 years ago or refer it to the prosecutor who could take my savngs or put me in prison. It seems like my only option is to let the b#st#rds steal my moto and get out.
Any alternatives?

[TheWarden]

sounds like you bike overstayed the Temporary Import requirements. Some countries waived this during covid but no idea if Ecuador did or not.

If its overstayed I assume you need to pay the fine or legally import it and pay the import costs

[manzini]

take it apart and bring it over the border,then put it back together and enter peru legally.
in any case it looks like you can't use it ecuador legally.
or sell it in parts,better than give it to the state(aduana)

[chris]

It seems your bike is impounded because it overstayed its TIP time limit. Hyperbole like imprisonment, government discrimination against foreigners and robbery might seem like a good idea for a certain target audience, but for others it might cause bemusement and enforce stereotypes about people from a certain part of the world.

If you still have access to the bike, I am happy to suggest ways of riding to Colombia or Peru (and entering these countries legally with your bike having not greased any Ecuadorian palms, nor saying adiós to Ecuador aduana). If it's locked away in a customs compound, then all I can do is wish you the best of luck.

[motomon]

There's no way I'm paying as much as 200% of what I paid for it new 4 years ago, even if I had it! I feel forced to walk away from "Milagros."

I'm looking at making a bid on a bike being stored in Madrid. I really need a contact there who could contract a mechanic to check it out for me.

Originally Posted by TheWarden

sounds like you bike overstayed the Temporary Import requirements. Some countries waived this during covid but no idea if Ecuador did or not.

If its overstayed I assume you need to pay the fine or legally import it and pay the import costs

[motomon]

Originally Posted by chris

It seems your bike is impounded because it overstayed its TIP time limit. Hyperbole like imprisonment, government discrimination against foreigners and robbery might seem like a good idea for a certain target audience, but for others it might cause bemusement and enforce stereotypes about people from a certain part of the world.

If you still have access to the bike, I am happy to suggest
ways of riding to Colombia or Peru (and entering these countries legally with your bike having not greased any Ecuadorian palms, nor saying adiós to Ecuador aduana). If it's locked away in a customs compound, then all I can do is wish you the best of luck.

I wish I still had access as Aduana has it locked away. Having lived and worked in or visited 100+ (111 actually) countries, I have learned to adjust in order to integrate. I did ask and try to pay a "fine" or multa, but was rebuffed.

Yes, there aew many stereotypes about Latinos, or any cultue but I believe the supposedly better cultures like the US are just as corrupt, just sneakier about it.

[motomon]

I would if I had it.

[motomon]

Originally Posted by TheWarden

sounds like you bike overstayed the Temporary Import requirements. Some countries waived this during covid but no idea if Ecuador did or not.

If its overstayed I assume you need to pay the fine or legally import it and pay the import costs

It be be nice to do that, but Ecuador discriminates against immigrants bringing vehicles, I believe so dealers can sell more!

[chris]

Originally Posted by motomon

I wish I still had access as Aduana has it locked away. Having lived and worked in or visited 200+ countries, I have learned to adjust in order to integrate. I did ask and try to pay a "fine" or multa, but was rebuffed.

Yes, there aew many stereotypes about Latinos, or any cultue but I believe the supposedly better cultures like the US are just as corrupt, just sneakier about it.

https://www.worldometers.info/geogra...-in-the-world/

Stereotypes, ayy.

[AnTyx]

Originally Posted by TheWarden

Some countries waived this during covid but no idea if Ecuador did or not.

Reading OP's post, I think the resident visa is a key factor... Like other countries, Ecuador might have been willing to overlook overstayed TIPs on tourist-owned bikes when the owners had to GTFO because of covid restrictions, but if OP became a legal resident of Ecuador, then there is every expectation that he would need to import, legalize and plate the vehicle he owns and drives inside the country.

[AnTyx]

Originally Posted by motomon

It be be nice to do that, but Ecuador discriminates against immigrants brining vehicles, I believe so dealers can sell more!

I believe Ecuador discriminates against immigrants bringing vehicles so that it does not become a graveyard for rustbuckets abandoned by gap-year gringos who flew home when their Che Guevara Motorcycle Diaries fantasy turned sour.

[chris]

Originally Posted by motomon

It be be nice to do that, but Ecuador discriminates against immigrants brining vehicles, I believe so dealers can sell more!

That many countries charge import taxes on goods, especially luxury goods like motor vehicles wouldn't necessarily come as a surprise to a seasoned traveller (you've been to more countries than even exist on the planet...) like yourself, I assume you'd have looked into the situation before pitching up at a "discriminatory towards immigrants" customs office?

https://customs.sirva.com/countries/...ods%20shipment.

[chris]

Originally Posted by AnTyx

I believe Ecuador discriminates against immigrants bringing vehicles so that it does not become a graveyard for rustbuckets abandoned by gap-year gringos who flew home when their Che Guevara Motorcycle Diaries fantasy turned sour.

Anyone can abandon a vehicle in Ecuador and leave via a land border or airport. The problem arises if you return and try to leave "legally" with the vehicle despite your paperwork/vehicle now being illegal.

An aside. I enjoyed the Motorcycle Diaries film, especially when Che and his amigo took a boat down the Amazon. It brought back pleasant memories

[Turbofurball]

Regarding the bike in Madrid, Spain also requires import taxes on vehicles for non-tourists and will fine people who try to export vehicles without the correct paperwork. I've just done the paperwork to sell an old bike to a guy who is going to export it to Africa, without it he wouldn't get past the port.

Also, to buy a motorcycle here you will need to have an ID number and a valid address from which to pay transfer tax, get insurance, etc.

[ibahabs]

Originally Posted by motomon

I wish I still had access as Aduana has it locked away. Having lived and worked in or visited 200+ countries, I have learned to adjust in order to integrate. I did ask and try to pay a "fine" or multa, but was rebuffed.

Yes, there aew many stereotypes about Latinos, or any cultue but I believe the supposedly better cultures like the US are just as corrupt, just sneakier about it.

Didn´t know you can live and work in 200+ countries.
Nearly every country fines you if you overstay your TIP. Has nothing to do that local dealer sell more. Simply a matter of equality. Otherwise, I just go to a country with lower taxes and by my car there.

In case you have access to your bike, disassemble it and ship it out of the country and better never enter again. If not you will have to make it legal in Ecuador.