Replies to post #84770 on Treaty Energy Corp. (fka TECO)

[panther2]

Good question! Something can't be considered to be stolen when there is no claim in any United States Court or Law Enforcement Agency by an individual claiming ownership.

U.S. Customs requires a VIN in order to allow the exportation of the vehicle or a PIN where there isn't a VIN applied. If a vehicle which is supposed to have a VIN applied and it was removed that would clearly be a red flag.

So, to answer your question(s) the vehicle couldn't be exported much less imported without the VIN.

The true owner of the rig is Treaty since they have been in possession of it for the past 5 years or so without any legal challenge to say otherwise.

Considering the relevant facts as presented here the only reasonable explanation for the missing VIN while the Rig has been is Belize is someone removed in in Belize to delay the pending sale.

Section 192.2 Requirements for Exportation

Basic requirements
A person attempting to export a used self-propelled vehicle shall present to Customs, at the port of exportation, both the vehicle and the required documentation describing the vehicle to include the VIN or, if the vehicle does not have a VIN, the product identification number (PIN). Exportation of a vehicle will be permitted only upon compliance with these requirements, unless the vehicle was Eentered into the United States under an in-bond procedure, a carnet, a Temporary Importation Bond, or under a personal exemption for non-residents who entered the vehicle for a 1-year period.

[Belize Oilwatch]

I suspect a vehicle (in this case a truck mounted rig) could be legally imported into Belize in the same way that my car in Belize City can be registered by showing a certificate of title which shows a VIN number of the vehicle.

No-one bothers to check the VIN number on the vehicle itself in this process although they do sometimes check that the vehicle matches the description on the paperwork. So in theory a vehicle with a VIN number on paper but with no VIN number on a vehicle plaque could be imported into Belize.

The car registration process is no different in Belize than the UK, UAE, Venezuela or Egypt in my own personal experience.

Regarding your allegation that the VIN number was removed - there is no evidence to support that. No vehicle plaque with a place for a VIN number which had been removed was found.

Also I have not seen any evidence to support your allegation that the VIN number was removed because the rig was stolen. The facts show that Treaty did not steal the rig and that the owner of the rig in 2008 was instructed by the court to transfer the ownership to another person as part of a settlement - which I understand they did not do.

Cheers
Belize Oilwatch
Belize CA

Just facts from Belize