Mexico to auction drug lords’ properties

MEXICO CITY, Nov 6 (NNN-Prensa Latina) — The 5th auction of properties seized from organized crime will take place on Sunday, Nov 9, at Los Pinos Cultural Center, the Mexican government announced.

The Mexican military barged into this home in Culiacán, Sinaloa, the early morning of Feb 17, 2004, in hopes of arresting El Chapo. He managed to escape through a tunnel hidden underneath a bathtub before he was finally captured a week later. The house has been put up for auction by the Mexican government. It is worth $127,287

Among the offers are two vessels that meet international maritime navigation norms, stated Ricardo Rodriguez, head of the Institute to Return the Stolen to the People.

Rodriguez explained that two cargo ships, one of them a medium-size vessel valued at about one million pesos (about 60,000 dollars) and another at 90,000 dollars, were used to supply fuels and goods to platforms and stationary ships.

One of the ships, a Honduran-flagged Caribbean Clipper, was seized for transporting stolen diesel, the official said.

In addition, nine properties seized from Joaquin ‘El Chapo’ Guzman will be up for auction, seven of which in Sinaloa. ‘The cheapest at 105,000 pesos (5,800 dollars), and the most expensive at 11 million pesos (610,000 dollars).