I read that post with excitement, then suspicion, then disbelief. I'm
from Latin America and naturally cynical about situations that seem too
good to be true. While this is not an attack on the gentleman who
posted, I also urge people to proceed with utmost caution on this.
I've chased a couple of golden geese like this in my time, and my
experience has been less-than-stellar...
In addition, Russia is currently experiencing financial and social
strife that rival those of the Third World, and it's virtually
guaranteed that this level of access to military hardware, especially
vintage hardware, involves *some* degree of "gray market activity". It
could be corrupt military officials, questionable paperwork, or quite
possibly Mafia involvement. I don't have to emphasize that the State
Department, US Customs, and probably the FBI would have a very dim view
of your direct involvement with the above. In the best possibly
scenario, it could take you a long time to get your vehicle, in the
worst case, you could end up without an MV, have to pay a fine,
etc...REGARDLESS of what you do, DON'T put yourself in a risky situation
by going over there with large quantities of cash, without escort,
etc...
A few years ago there was a case in my native Venezuela of a couple of
American businessmen from TX that were looking for vintage aircraft.
Venezuela received a LOT of US surplus right after WWII, during the era
of oil exploration by American companies. Much of this hardware
languishes in abandoned warehouses and hangars. These two men had
apparently clinched a deal for a C-47 Dakota that was in exceptional
shape, and a half dozen civilian Power Wagons that once belonged to
Shell. They arrived in Caracas (the capital), left the following day
with a guide, and promptly disappeared. Although the plane and vehicles
DID exist and were probably in even better condition than described,
they never saw them. A week later their bodies were found in a field,
riddled with bullets. The guide was never found, and neither were the
briefcases (presumably full of cash) that the two men were carrying.
Please be careful, and remember, if a deal sounds WAY TOO GOOD to be
true, it probably is. Like all of us, I'd like to believe in the
existence of a fabled depot of historically significant MV's in
climate-controlled storage, but until I see them safely and legally
delivered in the US, I'm not going to hold my breath.
Good Luck!
Henry J. Cubillan
-- Henry J. Cubillan TLCA; AZLCA; CLCC; U4WDA 1991 FJ62 <cubillan@earthlink.net> http://albums.photopoint.com/j/AlbumList?u=31079
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