Contraband purses, diamonds and vodka auctioned off by French authorities | France
France’s finance ministry is auctioning off customs contraband in an “extraordinary sale” that includes platinum bars seized en path to the UK, designer purses, worthwhile historic cash, a number of collections of uncut diamonds and a pair of,016 bottles of vodka.
The 350 heaps – valued collectively at about €1m – additionally embody a Volkswagen Golf stopped at France’s border with Spain and located to include 480kg of hashish resin.
Greater than 1,200 potential consumers have signed up to participate within the public sale, which will probably be held within the finance ministry at Bercy in Paris.
The 14 platinum bars weighing 1kg every and stamped “Crédit Suisse” have been reportedly found by French customs officers within the baggage of two individuals travelling to the UK who claimed they have been working for a Paris enterprise. Every ingot is on the market at a beginning worth of €22,000.
Seized gadgets detailed within the catalogue additionally embody gold sovereigns bearing the heads of the British monarchs Elizabeth II, Victoria, Edward VII and George V, in addition to a number of gold “Napoléons”.
Among the many luxurious items up for public sale are Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Fendi and Valentino purses and several other costly watches together with a white gold Rolex set with 40 rubies – catalogue estimate €15,000 – in addition to perfumes and a pair of Bottega Veneta sneakers seized at Good airport. The uncut diamonds, being offered in a number of heaps – one among which is listed as totalling 197.95 carats – have been seized at Paris airports.
Sure gadgets will probably be offered solely to skilled consumers for safety or authorized causes, together with three and a half pallets of Gray Goose vodka bottles, listed with a beginning worth of €10,000.
The finance ministry stated the sale mirrored “the range of objects seized by customs officers”.
“The customs service battles day by day in opposition to all unlawful site visitors that threatens our territory and our society with a purpose to defend residents and the setting,” it added.
