My car confiscated in Morocco

[uk_vette]

Hello all,
I have a problem that my car is confiscated in Morocco.

We went over from Algeciras to Tanger Med.
Me and the GF.
When we arrived Tanger Med Port both passports my UK passport, and her Chinese passport, passed to the arrivals 'car booths' but only mine was stamped entry. (Not know this at the time)
Had our 2 days in Morocco, and returned to Tanger Med Port to depart.
As my GF did not have an entry stamp, the officials said she was 'an illegal'
So the immigration officials took us both to the detention centre in Tanger Med Port..
Also, I am not sure this makes any bearing, but the surname they used to 'charge' her is actually incorrect, they have used the city of her birth as her surname.
The car was impounded.
We were released next day, without our passports.
We got a lawyer, who arranged a court date, which was in 3 days time, and the following day we got our passports back, after paying 240 pounds fee to the lawyer, and 400 pounds fine to the court.
Now the lawyer has said there is just a 20% chance to get our car back.
it is worth 17,000 pounds.

So here we are, back in UK without our car.
The lawyer said it might be returned to us in 2 to 3 months, after paying another fine to the courts.

CAN ANY ONE SUGGEST WHAT TO DO?
HAS ANY ONE ELSE HAD THEIR CAR CONFISCATED IN MOROCCO?

Edited by uk_vette on Sunday 12th September 09:52

[eldar]

A 2002 Mondeo 17k?

I suspect your bribe wasn't big enough.

Edited by eldar on Saturday 11th September 12:56

[Vidal Baboon]

eldar said:

A 2002 Mondeo 17k?

I suspect your bribe wasn't big enough.

Edited by eldar on Saturday 11th September 12:56

I believe 2nd hand car prices in Norway are quite high.
Sounds like a nightmare OP, what did the British Embassy say?

Edited by Vidal Baboon on Saturday 11th September 13:06

[uk_vette]

I did pay some reasonable bribe money, but it depends on who it is paid to,,,,,
It was my UK car,
We had got the ferry from Dover to Calais, and driven down trough France and Spain.
Then we got the ferry from Algeciras to Tanger Med, which is the new port, and is about 70% completed.

The problem only came to light when we tried to leave.
As there was no entry stamp in her passport, they deemed her an 'illegal' and took great joy in finding an 'illegal'
My problem is that my car was the mode of transport for 'an illegal' and as such, the reason for confiscation / impounded.

The British embassy in Rabat have not been any help so far.
the British consulate in Tanger,,, as much use as a chocolate fire guard.

[eldar]

uk_vette said:

I did pay some reasonable bribe money, but it depends on who it is paid to,,,,,
It was my UK car,
We had got the ferry from Dover to Calais, and driven down trough France and Spain.
Then we got the ferry from Algeciras to Tanger Med, which is the new port, and is about 70% completed.

The problem only came to light when we tried to leave.
As there was no entry stamp in her passport, they deemed her an 'illegal' and took great joy in finding an 'illegal'
My problem is that my car was the mode of transport for 'an illegal' and as such, the reason for confiscation / impounded.

The British embassy in Rabat have not been any help so far.
the British consulate in Tanger,,, as much use as a chocolate fire guard.

Get your MP involved, they should be able to help, at least supplying contacts.

[Papa Hotel]

stting hell, that's going to be a logistical/paperwork/getting-someone-who-can-help-to-give-a-fk nightmare...

All I can offer are my best wishes. Good luck.

[soad]

All the best with it - it sounds bloody painful

Keep us updated, please

[uk_vette]

eldar said:

A 2002 Mondeo 17k?

I suspect your bribe wasn't big enough.

Edited by eldar on Saturday 11th September 12:56

.

The Mondeo has long gone,
This is my Land Cruiser.

[The Lukas]

Holy cow

Best of luck dude, I'm sure somebody can offer something more productive than most of what's been said so far.

[scarebus]

uk_vette said:

eldar said:

A 2002 Mondeo 17k?

I suspect your bribe wasn't big enough.

Edited by eldar on Saturday 11th September 12:56

.

The Mondeo has long gone,
This is my Land Cruiser.

Bugger, they probably got their eye on that..... Have you spoken to your insurance company?

[jamoor]

when I went I bought a 1k banger purely in case something like this happened, anyway the British consulate is probbably your best bet.

[Bugeyeandy]

scarebus said:

uk_vette said:

eldar said:

A 2002 Mondeo 17k?

I suspect your bribe wasn't big enough.

Edited by eldar on Saturday 11th September 12:56

.

The Mondeo has long gone,
This is my Land Cruiser.

Bugger, they probably got their eye on that..... Have you spoken to your insurance company?

I accidentally illegally entered a country in South America some years back and was also detained (only for 24hrs) at the exit point sans passport until they decided what to do with us. We talked between ourselves about maybe offering a bribe as the border post pretty minimal and the local police were quite undisciplined.

Erring on the side of caution we just decided to sit it out, they got bored with us, relented and stamped our entrance and exit at the same time and let us on our way.

The problem with bribe money is it'll have set a precedent, no doubt they'll no be sitting back waiting for you to buy your car back.

I'd say you need to enquire through your lawyer if a "fine" can be paid to release your car before they decide to generously donate it to a local bigwig. Crappy situation though and I know how easy it is to slip up entering a country.

[herewego]

What was the 400 pound fine for?

[frosted]

Someone wants your car , and they got it .Tell you the truth you should have raised the no stamp issue at the border . Stuff like that you dont leave to chance

Talk to your insurance company or maybe your travel insurance can help out

[Dick_Phallus]

Initially I was wondering - seems a bit odd that the Moroccans have been such dicks impounding a Mondeo. Then when I discovered it was a Land Cruiser it all made a lot more sense....

[frosted]

Any update ?

[Pierscoe1]

Chalk Morocco up on the "places I never want to go if they're the last palces on earth" list along with Dubai then!

sounds horrific. hope you get the car back.

[Rodimus]

uk_vette said:

We got a lawyer, who arranged a court date, which was in 3 days time, and the following day we got our passports back, after paying 240 pounds fee to the lawyer, and 400 pounds fine to the court.

Edited by uk_vette on Sunday 12th September 09:52

What was the 400 for? The British embassy is responsible for you, not your gf. Why hasn't she contacted the Chinese embassy? When you go to get your passport stamped, there should be cameras inside the booth. You should probably use that as proof that they forgot to stamp her passport. But one thing I am confused about. Shouldn't the both of you need visas before entering morocco? If you did and they simply didn't give you an entry stamp, you can hold it against them.

[R11ysf]

I got pulled in Marrakech for "driving through a red light". The only thing was I followed another car through this alleged red light with another 2 cars behind me. I was the only car to get pulled and after presenting him with my UK paper license he decided a fine was going to be too much paperwork and about £20 in used notes would see us on our way.

You've gotta love the barter system - give me money or I'll make trouble for you or go to jail.

Still a great country though.

[on ramp]

It would be funny if it were a Scirocco in Morocco...