Going, going, gone! Police eBay drug lord’s aeroplane
A DRUG trafficker’s aeroplane, luxury sports cars and expensive jewellery are some of the seized goods which have been flogged by Leicestershire Police on eBay.
The force has generated more than £1.5 million by selling the confiscated goods on the online shop.
Leicestershire Police was the first force in the UK to use eBay to auction assets which were paid for with cash generated through criminal activity - mainly drug dealing.
Items sold range from luxury sports cars and computers to jewellery and clothing.
Incredibly, an aeroplane which had belonged to a drug trafficker was also sold on eBay.
Leicestershire Police opened the shop in September 2009 and has since high-end designer sold 6,000 items for a collective £1.5 million, including goods worth £300,000 in 2016.
The cash generated is shared between the force, the Home Office, the Crown Prosecution Service as well as being used as compensation to vic- tims of crimes.
Paul Wenlock, the head of the economic crime unit at Leicestershire Police, said: “The majority of the money is from drug dealing.
“They can’t help themselves, they go out and invest in bling items.
“We took approximately 200 items from one, including quality clothing and designer jewellery and watches.
“This year we’ve sold a VW car for £18,000 and Prada and Mulberry handbags have been very popular.”
The force’s ongoing campaign – Too Much Bling, Give Us a Ring – encourages members of the public to call in with information about people they know who appear to be living the high life with no obvious legal means of paying for it.
Mr Wenlock added: “Law-abiding people ask themselves why these people have a luxury car on the driveway and a new Rolex but does not appear to have a legitimate income.
“If you know anyone who appears to be living a lifestyle beyond their visible means, we would like to know.
“We can take action to ensure they do not benefit from these activities.”
Leicestershire Police’s eBay seller rating - which reflects its customers’ satisfaction levels - is 100%.