Nothing seems to surprise him when it comes to seized property, not even the helicopter pontoons or snowsuit on display at the preview Monday, which extends through Tuesday at noon. The highest-priced item so far was a 13-carat diamond ring that sold for $300,000 about 1 ½ years ago.
``That's the allure,'' he said. ``You don't know what's going to be there from auction to auction.''
Most of the merchandise comes from the U.S. Secret Service, with other goods from the Internal Revenue Service, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. While the name of the agency is indicated next to the item in the auction catalog, the undercover work that went into its seizure will remain a mystery, Steinfeld said.
Some large items, like a 40-foot sailboat and 1978 Beechcraft aircraft, are located offsite, in different cities, though they will be part of the auction. Proceeds from the auction go back to the agencies to continue their enforcement work.
Elias Daher, a cellphone dealer and owner of DNH Wirelesss in Miami, bought a 2000 Mercedes at the auction four years ago. This time, he is looking to buy cellphones, and also checked out the men's Rolex and Cartier watches Monday.
``I'm looking to see if I can find a nice watch to buy,'' he said.At another jewelry case, Robin and Alan Sherman of Lake Worth were checking out earrings and other baubles. It was their first time at the auction preview.
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