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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
National
Abigail Nicholson

Luxury yacht used to smuggle £60m worth of cocaine up for grabs

A yacht which was used to smuggle £60m worth of cocaine is being sold to the highest bidder.

Wilsons Auctions was given permission by the National Crime Agency (NCA) to sell a 50ft Yacht 'Sy Atrevido' after it was found with £60m of cocaine onboard. Wilsons sell clothing, jewellery, cars and boats from around the country, including Liverpool, under the Proceeds of Crime Act.

Bidding will be open to the public in a timed online format on Thursday, May 26 at 11am GMT. Registered customers will have a 24-hour window of opportunity to bid online before the auction closes at 11am GMT on Friday, May 27.

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Another seized vessel will be available in the upcoming online auction. ‘Trip Trap’ is a 1977 Mirage 28 sailing boat allocated to auction on behalf of a law enforcement agency. Berthed at Lowestoft Haven Marina, England, viewing for this vessel can be arranged strictly by appointment only on Thursday, May 26.

Alongside the vessels, Wilsons Auctions’ Online Luxury Goods Auction boasts a diverse range of lavish lots including a Kashmir Sapphire & Marquise Diamond Cluster Ring (SSEF Certified) with a nearest retail value of £250,000. Expensive taste in rings doesn’t stop there as a Platinum 1.05ct Fancy Pink Diamond Solitaire Ring (GIA Certified) with an estimated retail price of £290,000 is also included in the online auction.

For watch and timepiece enthusiasts, the luxury auction encompasses an exceptional fine and varied selection of wrist watches. A limited-edition Rolex Explorer II 'Black Venom' is available and is known to be one of 10 in the world of this type.

A yacht which was used to smuggle £60m worth of cocaine is being sold to the highest bidder (Behind The Lens Media Ltd)

An 18ct Yellow Gold Oyster Rolex Daytona is listed in the catalogue with an estimated retail value of £31,650. With box and papers and a manufacture date of 2022, demand for this watch has exceeded supply and it is currently only available on Rolex’s waitlist.

Known as ‘The Hulk’, a green dial Rolex Submariner is another popular watch model for bidders. Hermès, Louis Vuitton and Chanel are amongst popular designer handbags also allocated.

Wilsons Auctions’ Government Contracts Manager, Mark Woods said: "We are delighted to manage more seized vessels at auction this month for our vendors. Sy Atrevido is another high-profile UK case on behalf of the NCA with reports that around £60m worth of cocaine was found on board the 50ft yacht.

"The great range of other luxury Lots should appeal to a wide variety of bidders – new buyers are always welcome to the auction process at Wilsons Auctions. The online element of the auction is extremely convenient for bidders around the world to register and get involved.

"We are proud to facilitate auctions on behalf of our government and law enforcement agency clients. We play an important role in realising a large quantity of assets on behalf of these clients and in recent years, these auctions have seen us responsible in returning in excess of £130 million back into the public purse.”

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