East 10th Avenue in front of the Warren County Courthouse will be transformed into a used-car lot Friday afternoon as the Warren County Drug Task Force conducts its latest auction of vehicles that have either been seized in drug arrests or used by law enforcement officers.

The auction, scheduled for 1 p.m., will include 13 vehicles, four John Deere zero-turn mowers used by the county parks department, and assorted office equipment.

Drug Task Force Director Tommy Loving said the auction is important for his department because it helps him maintain a fleet of vehicles used by detectives and others involved in the task force’s efforts to suppress illegal drug activity.

Loving explained that state law allows any vehicle used to traffic drugs to be subject to forfeiture. The task force can then use the proceeds from the auction to purchase new vehicles.

“This (auction) pays for our new vehicles each year,” Loving said. “It means there’s no cost to taxpayers to purchase our investigative vehicles. It reduces the cost of our drug enforcement efforts.”

This year’s auction will include a variety of vehicles, including some that have been used for only a couple of years by task force detectives, receiving regular maintenance. Among the vehicles to be auctioned:

• Two 2022 Ford F150 trucks
• Ford Explorers from both 2022 and 2023
• A 2021 Dodge Charger
• A 2020 Chevrolet Traverse
• A 2019 Dodge Grand Caravan

A full list of the items in the auction can be found at the jbhauctioneers.com website. Loving said auctioneer Joe Houchens will conduct the auction free of charge, something he has done for the task force for more than 20 years.

“He believes in what we do,” Loving said.

Loving said the vehicles and equipment will be available for pre-viewing at the courthouse starting at 10 a.m. Friday.