Property confiscated from area drug dealers went up for auction last week in Northwest Georgia, and some bidders walked away with big bargains, which in turn meant a big boost to the Lookout Mountain Judicial Circuit Drug Task Force bank account.

Around 600 people were there to bid on 200 or so items taken from alleged drug dealers with one of the most sought after prizes being a classic 1969 Camaro, which went for $32,000.

Someone also paid $34,000 for some property along Highway 157.

All-in-all, around $250,000 was raised from the auction; 10% of that goes to the office of District Attorney Herbert “Buzz” Franklin, for use in helping to cover the cost of court filings required to seize the property.

The rest will stay with the task force.  Commander Pat Doyle says the money will be used in two main ways: since the agents cover four counties, some of the funds will go for fuel and they must also purchase equipment used on marijuana and methamphetamine busts.

With an annual budget of $150,000 – auctions such as this are vitally important when it comes to providing agents with the proper materials to do the best job possible.

The turnout for the auction came as a surprise to many – in addition to those 600 bidders, another 1,900 people just came to watch and see what was for sale.

(Chattanooga Times-Free Press/AM1180)