Plane Used For Shipping Drugs Auctioned Off In Montgomery County

By Brad Segall

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Pa (CBS) - The Montgomery County District Attorney's Office is auctioning off a plane seized from a Colorado man who used it to fly methamphetamine he picked up in Las Vegas into the area.

The single engine Piper Comanche was forfeited to prosecutors in April after James Handzus was convicted of drug violations.

The plane is now up for sale on Municibid.com, a website designed for auctioning government property. The minimum bid for the 1959 baby blue aircraft is $4,000.

"I don't imagine that he's happy at all, but he's spending nine to 22 years as a guest of the state and I don't think he'll have any need for the plane," says prosecutor Jim Staerk.

According to Staerk, any profits will be plowed back into the fight against drugs on the streets of Montgomery County.

The plane and its log books will be available for inspection Wednesday and next Saturday at Wings Field in Blue Bell. The auction closes July 12th.