Last Friday, the irrepressible and often in-trouble tour operator Yohny Rosado had one of his classic press conferences. This time it was to complain about the police confiscating his face new SUV. The cops took it - claiming it was stolen in the US. But, Rosado wanted proof because he says all the Belizean paperwork on the the vehicle is legit and had to go through customs department screening.
Indeed, it's a mystery and one we've assiduously been trying to get to the bottom of. And we came across a most interesting wrinkle along the way: one of the persons who had an apparent interest in importing the vehicle into the country is an elected PUP area representative. Jules Vasquez has the details:
The picture on the 2021 Volkswagen Atlas's history is becoming clearer.
Reliable reports tell us that the luxury SUV was reportedly stolen in the US State of Illinois in October of 2021.
But - after a shady dealer kept it hidden for months in the US - he or she then somehow got a a new title for it, also in the US - and a dealer brought it to Belize in February of 2022.
As per procedure, customs sent the VIN number to the police Joint Intelligence Coordination Centre in Belmopan for approval - and it was cleared.
No record that it was stolen came up - paving the way for it to be cleared from customs.
And that's when the name of the PUP's rep for Belize Rural North Marconi Leal appears. The Customs Appraisal form clearly says at the top "Hon. Leal". We are told that the standard procedure is that an elected official's interest in a vehicle is declared at the outset - so that the customs can give special consideration, that is to exercise leniency on the customs assessment - thus depriving the government of revenue for the representative's personal, commercial or political advantage.
In this case, it paved the way for the importer Victor Arana to pay only $7,200 in duty - and a total of less than 12,000 in duty and taxes for the high end SUV.
It was cleared and got a clean and legit certificate of registration - but now the record of it being stolen has come up and the man who bought it in a private legal transfer - wants to know where the information chain broke down
Yohnny Rosado, Police Confiscated His SUV
"My vehicle is not stolen. How a stolen will come in this era of time when America and Belize have everything is data. How a nice vehicle like that will be stolen and brought from the border in, Houston, America and Mexico. They came all the way through Mexico, they reach at the border of Chetumal, they crossed that border, they came in here, they came and licensed. It was licensed and insure you know when I bought it and it was crashed. Brought from the States crashed. They were about to fix it. So, don't tell me about it was a too good to be true deal. That don't fit the criteria I am talking about."
Rosado who says he paid $65,000 for the vehicle now claims he was let down by a broken system:
Yohnny Rosado, Police Confiscated His SUV
"My country, my traffic department, my government have led me down by not protecting my rights, protecting my vehicle that I bought here and I got the transfer from the traffic department."
We did reach out via text to Belize Rural North's Marconi Leal for comment on his involvement with the importation of the vehicle. Just a few minutes ago he told us, quote, "Had no interest in that vehicle, just asked customs to assist a friend with a little discount on the duty. That's it."
We are told that when an elected official is importing a vehicle, or has an interest in the importation - it is standard for their names to be affixed to customs appraisal forms for special consideration on the customs valuation.
Tonight, Police retain possession of Rosado's SUV, and we'll keep following up to see what next steps will be taken.
