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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Plane for sale: no keys, one not-careful-enough owner | Plane for sale: no keys, one not-careful-enough owner |
| (4 months later) | |
| Without knowing much about its its previous owners, browsers of the auction site eBay might have deemed a light aircraft that went under the hammer last week for just over £17,000 as remarkable only because of its selling price. | Without knowing much about its its previous owners, browsers of the auction site eBay might have deemed a light aircraft that went under the hammer last week for just over £17,000 as remarkable only because of its selling price. |
| Until, that is, closer attention was paid to the identity of the seller, Leicestershire police, who were selling a plane that was once used by a drugs gang to smuggle cocaine into Britain from France. | Until, that is, closer attention was paid to the identity of the seller, Leicestershire police, who were selling a plane that was once used by a drugs gang to smuggle cocaine into Britain from France. |
| The Zenair Zodiac, which was seized under the Misuse of Drugs Act, found a buyer after the force offered it for sale on eBay on behalf of Northamptonshire police. | The Zenair Zodiac, which was seized under the Misuse of Drugs Act, found a buyer after the force offered it for sale on eBay on behalf of Northamptonshire police. |
| The money raised from the unusual lot, described as needing "considerable work" to make it airworthy, is to be put back into funding policing activities and community projects. | The money raised from the unusual lot, described as needing "considerable work" to make it airworthy, is to be put back into funding policing activities and community projects. |
| Accompanying details stated: "There are no keys. This item is collect only." | Accompanying details stated: "There are no keys. This item is collect only." |
| They added that, when "new and complete", the aircraft was priced in the region of £30,000, and that the preferred method of payment was cheque or banker's draft. | They added that, when "new and complete", the aircraft was priced in the region of £30,000, and that the preferred method of payment was cheque or banker's draft. |
| Northamptonshire's police and crime commissioner Adam Simmonds said: "The sale of the plane and the interest from the public we've seen has been tremendous. | Northamptonshire's police and crime commissioner Adam Simmonds said: "The sale of the plane and the interest from the public we've seen has been tremendous. |
| "It sold well above the reserve price and more than we expected to get. This sends a strong message to criminals that we will seize and sell their assets." | "It sold well above the reserve price and more than we expected to get. This sends a strong message to criminals that we will seize and sell their assets." |
| Other items put up for sale on eBay by Leicestershire police included mobile phones, a replica second world war German motorbike and sidecar, military toys and a volume called The Book of Muscle: the World's Most Authoritative Guide to Building Your Body. | Other items put up for sale on eBay by Leicestershire police included mobile phones, a replica second world war German motorbike and sidecar, military toys and a volume called The Book of Muscle: the World's Most Authoritative Guide to Building Your Body. |
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