Millions in revenue hoped for: Justice auctions off luxury cars and watches

The judiciary is hoping to raise millions in revenue for the state treasury from a large auction of confiscated cars, motorcycles and watches. Because around four very high-priced Lamborghinis, including a pure racing car without street approval, are in mint condition, they are expecting proceeds of around two million euros, said bailiff Alexander Doster, who is responsible for the auction on October 24th in Stuttgart's Mercedes-Benz Museum.

In addition to the four expensive Lamborghinis, eleven other cars, three motorcycles and four luxury watches are going under the hammer. These were seized or seized in criminal proceedings. According to the judiciary, it is about money laundering, tax fraud or drug trafficking. The judiciary only reveals who exactly the items previously belonged to in cases in which the proceedings have been completed. According to the Stuttgart Public Prosecutor's Office, one Porsche came from a man who was convicted of drug trafficking, and another Porsche came from convicted fraudsters.

Minister: “The arm of the rule of law extends into the perpetrators’ garage”

Most of the items, however, are so-called “emergency sales”. According to Robin Schray from the Stuttgart Public Prosecutor's Office, these are possible if, as with cars, there is a risk of significant loss of value due to long periods of inactivity. If the suspects are ultimately acquitted, they will receive the proceeds from the auctioned cars back, according to Schray.

Justice Minister Moritz Oppelt (CDU) also wants to use the auction to send a message to criminals. According to the CDU politician, crime is not worth it in Baden-Württemberg. “What comes from crimes doesn’t stay with the perpetrators. The arm of the rule of law extends into the perpetrators’ garages,” said Oppelt.

Bitcoin inheritance embezzled?

According to research by the German Press Agency, items in the auction come, among other things, from the case of an allegedly embezzled crypto inheritance worth millions.

On suspicion of money laundering and tax evasion, investigators searched apartments and business premises in the districts of Freudenstadt, Ludwigsburg and Esslingen in the spring. They confiscated cryptocurrencies worth around 64 million euros, high-quality cars and motorcycles, expensive watches and cash.

After an inheritance, several people are said to have withdrawn Bitcoin and other digital currencies from an inheritance and then concealed their origin, as the financial crime task force announced at the time.