The Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF), through the Asset Management Office (GGA), today began auctioning off the first assets seized by the judicial authorities as part of the fight against crime.

Among the goods put up for auction are vehicles, including a Mercedes Benz ML 350 and a BMW, a tractor, a caravan, generators and household furniture.

In a Sunday newspaperThe director of the Asset Management Office at the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Alda Manjate, said that the assets being auctioned off were easily damaged and had to be sold so that the money could go to the state.

"If the alleged owners are convicted, the amount will revert to the state. If they are acquitted, the amount will revert to the alleged owners," said the source.

The highest bid was for a Mercedes Benz ML 350, worth 1.1 million meticais, and this should be followed by others, since the Asset Management Office is managing 2,271 assets, valued at 2.4 billion meticais, and the list includes 80 properties resulting from tax fraud, tax crimes and drug trafficking.