AGACE Puts yet Another Bullet in Mexico’s Foot

This just in. The owners of one boat impounded in Ensenada tells us that Mexican IRS (AGACE) has accepted at least one boat owner’s application to have their boat released. The AGACE agent told them it will take two weeks to get the official release letter.

Last Friday the boat owners were told that the agency’s office was ready to receive applications for boat owners to have their boats released, and that the documents required for release were: The Temporary Import permit (TIP), a copy of the boat’s insurance policy, the boat’s document, owners’ passports, and a letter from the marina the boat is located in, quoting the case number and requesting release. The letter has to be in Spanish.

Mind you, this boat hasn’t been able to leave the Ensenada marina since early December. The owners originally came to Mexico for a few days and wanted to leave five weeks ago, but they are now being asked to wait two more weeks. Given the speed with which the Mexican bureaucracy moves, it would not surprise us if the release letter didn’t arrive for a month or more.

It’s unclear if the Guadalajara and Mexico City offices of AGACE are ready to receive applications for release.

What is clear is that AGACE continues to handle this mess in just about the worst possible way they can.