Using an Internet-based auction held this week, the U.S. government parted with nine spectacular cars previously owned by Miami drug kingpin Alvaro López Tardón.
For the most part, his collection consisted of average rich guy stuff. But hidden amongst the mediocrity were a few cars that stood out to us at The Drive—in part for their high mileage. For example, his Bugatti Veyron, which reportedly saw over $900,000 in bids (sounds like a bargain to us); a Ferrari Enzo with 13,088 miles on the odometer that received bids of more than $1.9 million; a Maybach 57S; and a Ferrari F430 with an impressive 33,381 miles on the clock. Hey, he may have been a drug lord, but at least he drove his supercars.
The cars were sold via an online auction which was run by Apple Auctioneering Co., which, we would like to note, has an employee named Ocean Commander. (Yes, we’re serious.)
López Tardón, 41, was a Spanish citizen, but he spent most of his time living in Miami. He ran an international drug trafficking ring and made his riches off of intense money laundering. According to the U.S. Marshals Service, López Tardón was responsible for bringing more than 7,500 kilograms of cocaine from South America to Spain, a business that allowed him to raise and launder more than $14 million. He then used that money to buy luxurious Florida properties, crazy cars, jewelry…and basically everything and anything he could get his hands on.
But his ostentatious lifestyle didn’t last for long. After indicting López Tardón in 2011, the U.S. government, assisted by local law enforcement, conducted a multi-year, cross-jurisdictional investigation, managed to convict the drunk kingpin on one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering and 13 counts of money laundering. He is currently serving a 150-year sentence at the Miami Federal Detention Center.
