Haiti/Mexico?

[Hawk]

Guys
Thought I ask here to see if anyone have the information or facts about what type of licenses needed to work in Mexico or Haiti?
If so also the costs for legaly operate with security (not interested in opening a branch office with a local partner just to possible fly in and work with a client for some project in these 2 places.
Im not interested in any CVs just to find out whats needed before I make a final call to the person that enquired my interest.

Also a side thing Im just curious about nothing more.
The US border is guarded by Border Police/customs etc..is there any security companies (private aloud to guard US borders?)
Thanks
Hawk

[Secfor]

I can only speak on the Mexico issue having recently gone through the process there; The answer to your question is....there's no easy answer.

Here are my suggestions though:

If interested in working in Mexico in a security capacity, get a gig as an operator there for 6 months to 1 year, full time, to see if it's your type of environment. This place is not for everybody. Try to get on a gig OTHER than the 'Point A to Point B' type jobs where you take the same route to the same place at the same time everyday, sit there for about 12 hours, then return. The large details down there do exactly this. You don't learn much if anything running on this type of detail.

There are many cross-border executives that travel all over the city each day. These details you will actually learn from as you get to actually do the job.

Once working there for a while, IF you decide you like, and/or can deal with the system here, then maybe consider opening up shop.

There are several different types of Mexican Business entities and some pretty good websites that detail the expenses involved.

To open a SECURITY company here, you will generally need local ownership. To get a license to operate an ARMED security company here, you will definitely need local ownership and most of the time, that local owner should have been a former military officer.

This is why I said there is no easy answer. A standard Mex corporation can be set up for less than $2000USD and a good notary. But you will NOT be doing security down here for that amount.

We had great success partnering with a locally licensed firm in northern Mex. This may have been the case because we are right here at the border ourselves and were well acquainted with the local security firm's principals before we signed on that dotted line.

So the moral of this story is, get down here on a detail, then make up your mind about setting up shop.

Rick

[Hawk]

Thanks much appreciated all the intel I can get, first its not me thats going to work there. It would be my company, I do have employees and the problem now when Im awaiting surgery is that I cant work myself and the contracts have been put on hold or I even lost a couple since I cant work myself. The old back injury from many years did came back on my last detail in Afghanistan (been there on 2 diffrent jobs/companies) and 1 in iraq not to forget Saudi Arabia where I spendt lots of months so the environment is not any problem it is to get a working operational security license (preferable without any local owner/partnerships) I have no problem working with locals that is a must however dont just whant them in on my business the world is corrupted and especially in these countries..we go in and work and then we leave..
If there is more info I gladly accept them

Thanks
Håkan/Hawk

[Local Talent]

I've been exchanging ideas with Hawk on- and offline, and I must say he has interesting and challenging questions.

Unfortunately, I'm a local operator with a limited scope and have very little idea how training facilities can be opened in other countries or how private companies land and man overseas contracts.

Secfor is certainly the man to address those issues on this forum, and I'm grateful that we have in him, not only a pro of that caliber, but also someone willing to share his expertise, not just advertise for his company (thinking of members who post once, only to tell us they're out there). :thumbs:

All I have to contribute is that I'd personally pay close attention to what folks with their boots already on the ground in those particular AOs have to say.
And guys operating there or only planning to do so, have all my respect for more reasons than the simple risk level.

[Secfor]

Thanks for the kind words LT.

Hawk,

No disrespect meant when I recommended getting to know the environment first. I too have done the world tour and operated in Iraq, Azerbaijan, Bosnia, Beirut, etc, etc... but Mexico is unlike any of these areas. One of our teams recently took a reporter from a well known international magazine into northern Mexico. This guy has lived with the Taliban in A-Stan, rolled the streets of Iraq for 2 years, among many other extremely dangerous and challenging assignments. Our three man team took him to a certain area in Tijuana Mexico, and he told me that this was the most fear he had felt in any of his assignments. The brutality here is comparable to maybe only Africa. In the Mideast it was a big deal to behead somebody, here it seems to be another day at the office.

The politics are unique, to say the least. It is not an easy thing to get used to. I have seen firms come and go because they can't take the way business is done here. It can be very frustrating at times. I am fortunate enough to have a business partner (a US citizen) that lives down there and he got the system down, long before I rolled into town.

Opening a security firm here is going to be tough with no local support. It took us a while to figure out the best way to do it, and our local support made things much easier. We have secured land for a training facility and now are number crunching before we start pouring asphalt. Until then we use a leased training area about 10 minutes south of the San Diego/Tijuana border.

So, all things are possible, but need to be examined very carefully. And nothing is done quickly here.

Rick

[Hawk]

Rick
Yes I do understand and its fair points.
The thing is Im not going to open a security firm, I have a request from a client I used to work for in the past to provide security in a few countries. The more countries I can take the better chance for me to secure the job. Now nobody knows the lenght but the company is already operating in some 100+ countries and I worked for them in other regions of the world. This is more to fly in and work legaly if its 2 weeks or 2 years the projects will be running we dont know and nobody does. Therefore I dont whant to involve others since this will be 1-2 man maybe more working together with local driver (if this comes thrue) however the money is cut down just so the operators and the company have little extra and it cant be shared with a 3 party thats why I am looking for a way to legaly operate with security and armed within the country.
If its not possible due to local law or paper work then its not much to do.
But I do know that very few countries in the world say no, when someone wish to operate and provide work for locals its just that connections, or similar is needed.
We done it in so many countries before but been shorter tasks from few days to a few months at the time. I will see if I can get hold of a Mexican on the MOI side to see what ideas, questions and consirns we must go thrue
I know that some companies wish to work with their own staff as closest and if thats not possible they might not start up new projects since security is a huge consirn

Thanks
Hawk

[Secfor]

Ok,
Your goals are a little clearer to me know.

Here are some final thoughts.

- Foreign bodyguards are illegal in Mexico unless working legally for a local licensed entity. Some firms get around this by calling their bodyguards "drivers"

- A foreigner will not allowed to be armed in Mexico unless they become a Mexican Citizen and THEN get accepted as a commercial police officer or have somebody high up in the Military on their side.

- If you open a security firm here, you will be subject to corporate taxation on all revenues

- The Mexican Government does NOT welcome the presence of foreign security firms/operators. Tread lightly when making inquiries

- And lastly, what you may be told by an official on the phone will most likely be vastly different here on the ground.

There are probably ways to accomplish you goals here you just have to get to know the place and fit your model into the best legal option.

Rick

[Hawk]

yes ok I will take that into consideration thanks again
H