Juarez authorities cracking down on ‘chocolate cars’

In Juarez, they’re “autos chuecos” (crooked cars). City, state and federal authorities are getting ready to impound illegally imported vehicles from the US. “Many crimes — up to 70% — are committed using vehicles with no license plates or stickers that are neither legal nor issued by any authority,” Chihuahua Gov. Javier Corral said.

Up to 60,000 autos chuecos operate in Juarez.

The term "chocolate cars" is a play on words from chueco, or crooked cars.

Crooked cars have circulated on Mexican border cities for 50 years. Vehicle owners blame high Mexican import fees that make paying bribes or even losing the vehicle cheaper than legally bringing it into Mexico. Only the federal government can legally seize the unregistered vehicles, but local cops and the state police can impound them. Crooked cars, chocolate cars, los pafas, irregulars. There are many names.