Stupid shit in Medellin

[The Cane]

​You can argue that things don't add up, or that something seems fishy. But what I can tell you is this: if you bring more than three phones, tablets, or other electronic devices into Colombia, and your luggage is searched and these items are foundand you do this repeatedlyit can lead to federal charges in the United States. I am giving fellow board members a warning based on what happened to me so that you can avoid the same mistake.

​You can make whatever allegations you choose, but I am telling you what happened over a three-to-five-year period. I brought in devices, my luggage was searched, and TSA left notices inside my suitcases several times. Then, out of the blue, I received a large yellow envelope in the mail instructing me to report to the federal courthouse in Orlando, Florida..

I'm not making any. I don't know enough about it to do that. Like another said, you keep going on and on with this, and we're following it and trying to figure it out. Here's one reason why it feels "off" to me. You said that you received notices from TSA in your luggage several times regarding the matter. Apparently, you ignored those and continued to bring devices into Colombia in your bags. Why did you do that? For most people on the up and up who don't want any trouble, one warning notice would have been enough. But apparently for you it wasn't, and per your account that got you into hot water. Why didn't you change your behavior after being forewarned by those notices from TSA? Because you didn't, it could be said that you brought all the trouble onto yourself. Again, why did you do that that? Why didn't you cease and desist after the first TSA notice to you?

[PolloNegro]

​One thing about this board is that we usually only talk about people who get arrested for drugs, underage girls, or foreigners who get "scoped" and robbed. We never talk about the unexpected things that can happen to anyone. I am fine with that; I have no problem with it. I am simply trying to make board members aware of what happened to me.

​A simple process like bringing electronic devices into a country without knowing the limit—which is only three cell phones—can cause a deeply traumatic event. Believe me, if I had known that I would be arrested and brought to federal court, I would have never brought those phones into the country.

​There are greater dangers in Colombia than just underage girls, drugs, and being robbed via scopolamine. Simple transactions, like trying to be friendly and bringing gifts in the form of cell phones, can be viewed as an illegal importation violation. That is all I am saying. If you don't care to listen, block this post or scroll right past it. But I am telling you: the more informed you are, the more you know what not to do when you are in Colombia. There are dangers beyond just drugs, girls, and being scoped.

​Stay vigilant.

PN.

[PolloNegro]

Yes, all of this just isn't adding up. Totally doesn't pass the "smell" test. There's stuff being left out here I'm sure. Otherwise, it just doesn't make any sense.

​You can argue that things don't add up, or that something seems fishy. But what I can tell you is this: if you bring more than three phones, tablets, or other electronic devices into Colombia, and your luggage is searched and these items are found—and you do this repeatedly—it can lead to federal charges in the United States. I am giving fellow board members a warning based on what happened to me so that you can avoid the same mistake.

​You can make whatever allegations you choose, but I am telling you what happened over a three-to-five-year period. I brought in devices, my luggage was searched, and TSA left notices inside my suitcases several times. Then, out of the blue, I received a large yellow envelope in the mail instructing me to report to the federal courthouse in Orlando, Florida. From that point on, everything went downhill until I retained an attorney.

​Do as you wish, but remember that I am sharing this information solely because of what happened to me. It wasn't about drugs, and it wasn't about underage girls—it was strictly about electronic devices, specifically cell phones.

​Stay vigilant.

PN.

[PolloNegro]

I'm not PN, but I'm pretty sure he's referring to Colombian Federal Court. I'm guessing it's Colombian authorities that froze his Colombian bank accounts putting the pension deposits there in jeopardy.

IANAL, but if the Colombian authorities thought he was running an import business and not declaring his goods, they'd go after him for 15% duties, 19% VAT, and then 200% that amount as a penalty. If they felt it exceeded 50 x the minimum wage (thirty $1,000 phones would be close to that amount), they could go after him under the Anti-Contraband law, punishable with 4-16 years in jail and fines of 200 to 300% of the phones' value.

As a matter of fact, it was a combination of the USA And Colombian governments working together. Because I am an American citizen and the phone purchases initiated in America, they decided to allow the American authorities to prosecute me. They also allowed females from Colombia—who had received some of the phones as payments and gifts—to attend my initial hearing to justify why I and my passport should be detained.

​Ultimately, it wasn't the Colombian government that pursued me; they simply allowed the American government to do so. I had no idea that bringing electronic devices into the country would lead to a federal charge. However, what I can tell you is that the USA And Colombian governments work closely together. If they need to bring witnesses from Colombia to America to validate an alleged crime, they will do it, and they will protect their identities. They did it in my case—I witnessed it firsthand.

​My lawyer and I worked through these challenges, though it took three years to resolve them. We eventually entered a plea, and everything they took from me was returned, including my bank account. They had seized the account to try and establish that the funds came from selling the electronic devices I brought to Colombia. In reality, barely any of the money came from those sales or trades. My lawyer had to demonstrate that the funds were already there and came from other, legitimate sources.

​Stay vigilant.

PN.

[L00PY]

Since you are bringing this up again. You had to go to US Federal Court for bringing in a few cellphones? Who seized your assets and why would your pension be in danger?

I'm not PN, but I'm pretty sure he's referring to Colombian Federal Court. I'm guessing it's Colombian authorities that froze his Colombian bank accounts putting the pension deposits there in jeopardy.

IANAL, but if the Colombian authorities thought he was running an import business and not declaring his goods, they'd go after him for 15% duties, 19% VAT, and then 200% that amount as a penalty. If they felt it exceeded 50 x the minimum wage (thirty $1,000 phones would be close to that amount), they could go after him under the Anti-Contraband law, punishable with 4-16 years in jail and fines of 200 to 300% of the phones' value.

[Degenerate24]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3X-aIJFAlx8

[Huacho]

I may have a southern American accent, but many Latinos that I speak Spanish with ask me if I am from the Dominican Republic or Cuba. When I speak Portuguese I can always fool a Brazilian into thinking I am Brazilian. I have a degree in French, and my classmates would always laugh because I spoke it with a southern accent. When speaking in any of the 4 languages that I speak other than English, there is always someone who will tell me I do not speak English. I say but I am speaking Spanish, etc. They look at me and assume without listening. Once I was speaking English to a guy who appeared to be Indian, and he told me I do not speak Spanish. I said I am speaking English!

It is hilarious listening to people with Southern accents speaking French. I try to keep a straight face. It has to be tougher for y'all to be convincing in French than in Spanish or Portuguese. Like all y'all and bless your heart.

[ToastMonger269]

Spanish is 1 / 4 languages I speak. I make a solid effort on pronunciation so much that some thought I was Mexican or Argentinian.

I have yet to meet a Gringo who spoke Spanish with no gringo accent. You may speak it fluently but we can tell that it isn't your first language. Don't be so cocky because that can be dangerous in Colombia.

[PolloNegro]

I have not, in fact, met any Colombians who met that description, particularly freckles. I have only spent a total of about six months in that country, maybe eight.

Tribal guitar I'm sure you will find blonde hair blue-eyed Colombians with freckles there! PN!

[Mr Enternational]

I have yet to meet a Gringo who spoke Spanish with no gringo accent. You may speak it fluently but we can tell that it isn't your first language. Don't be so cocky because that can be dangerous in Colombia.

I may have a southern American accent, but many Latinos that I speak Spanish with ask me if I am from the Dominican Republic or Cuba. When I speak Portuguese I can always fool a Brazilian into thinking I am Brazilian. I have a degree in French, and my classmates would always laugh because I spoke it with a southern accent. When speaking in any of the 4 languages that I speak other than English, there is always someone who will tell me I do not speak English. I say but I am speaking Spanish, etc. They look at me and assume without listening. Once I was speaking English to a guy who appeared to be Indian, and he told me I do not speak Spanish. I said I am speaking English!

[Huacho]

Sometimes I wonder why I even try. Is it true that, in the year 2026, you have never seen a Colombian with blonde hair, blue eyes, and freckles? Honestly, I capitulate. PN!

I have not, in fact, met any Colombians who met that description, particularly freckles. I have only spent a total of about six months in that country, maybe eight.

[Huacho]

I have yet to meet a Gringo who spoke Spanish with no gringo accent. You may speak it fluently but we can tell that it isn't your first language. Don't be so cocky because that can be dangerous in Colombia.

Have you met a gringo who has spent twenty years living in a wide variety of Spanish speaking countries and began learning it at the age of ten?

[El Capo]

I speak Spanish fluently to the point no one can tell I am a gringo during a PHONE conversation. I have fair hair, blue eyes, and freckles. So not going to fool anyone out on the street. That makes a difference. I can "dress and act like a colombiano" all I want and it makes no difference. I stick out anywhere and everywhere and am "el blanco" which means target. That will always be the case anywhere I go in Latin America and I have to ALWAYS keep it in mind.

I have yet to meet a Gringo who spoke Spanish with no gringo accent. You may speak it fluently but we can tell that it isn't your first language. Don't be so cocky because that can be dangerous in Colombia.

[PolloNegro]

I speak Spanish fluently to the point no one can tell I am a gringo during a PHONE conversation. I have fair hair, blue eyes, and freckles. So not going to fool anyone out on the street. That makes a difference. I can "dress and act like a colombiano" all I want and it makes no difference. I stick out anywhere and everywhere and am "el blanco" which means target. That will always be the case anywhere I go in Latin America and I have to ALWAYS keep it in mind.

Sometimes I wonder why I even try. Is it true that, in the year 2026, you have never seen a Colombian with blonde hair, blue eyes, and freckles? Honestly, I capitulate. PN!

[Huacho]

You can't take everything on the board to heart. You just have to take it for what it is, because there will always be people looking to stir up trouble and throw shots. With multiple board members, differences of opinion are inevitable.

​If you truly want to experience something, you need to go out and see it for yourself. Everyone's perspective is different, and you don't need to entertain every postwhether it's directed at you or not. Agitators only post to get a reaction, and I refuse to give them one. My time in Centro has been entirely positive. No one has robbed or mistreated me, and I don't need to single out any group just to get engagement on my posts. PN!

I speak Spanish fluently to the point no one can tell I am a gringo during a PHONE conversation. I have fair hair, blue eyes, and freckles. So not going to fool anyone out on the street. That makes a difference. I can "dress and act like a colombiano" all I want and it makes no difference. I stick out anywhere and everywhere and am "el blanco" which means target. That will always be the case anywhere I go in Latin America and I have to ALWAYS keep it in mind.