The state Attorney General's Office plans to auction off two helicopters at the Kona Airport on Saturday, a 1994 and a 2000 Robinson Beta R-22. State will auction
2 seized helicoptersChoppers were part of a drug
investigation in two statesStar-Bulletin staff
The helicopters are part of the property seized in a coordinated effort of Hawaii and Colorado law enforcement.
According to Wesley R. Teixeira, seized asset program manager, "the case involved an individual apprehended in Colorado for manufacturing large amounts of marijuana."
In their investigation, Colorado police discovered that the man had purchased the Mauna Loa Helicopter tour business in Kona to launder his money, he said. The tour company is now operated by different owners, Teixeira said.
In addition to the helicopters, police also seized two Ferraris, 2 Mercedes-Benzes, a Ford Mustang and a Porsche. They also seized a 1986 truck the man was retrofitting to hold diesel fuel.
"Most of the property was seized here," Teixeira said, noting that the Kona vice division conducted the Hawaii part of the investigation. The cars have already been auctioned off.
The proceeds will be used by state and county law enforcement agencies to combat crime.
The helicopters can be inspected between 1 and 4 p.m. tomorrow, and the auction begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday.
For more information, call Rosen Auctions at 537-2728 or Teixeira at 586-1385. More information is also available at www.rosenauctions.com.