PARKERSBURG — The sheriff’s departments in Jackson and Wetzel counties were among 18 agencies receiving proceeds through the unclaimed firearms auction conducted by the state treasurer.

The 12th auction was held on Sept. 12 and raised $176,770 to benefit the participating law enforcement agencies, breaking the previous record of $141,00 raised in the auction in March, according to Treasurer Riley Moore.

The state auctioned 307 lots of 627 firearms and 300 pounds of ammunition, the largest inventory ever for the firearms auction. Outdated, unclaimed or old firearms, ammunition and related accessories in police inventory are auctioned to qualified bidders.

Twelve auctions have been held since 2014, allowed under the West Virginia Unclaimed Property Code, Chapter 36, Article 8A. State and local law enforcement agencies can turn over any unclaimed, seized or outdated firearms in their possession to the state treasurer for auction.

Weapons can include those that are older and no longer used by a department, have been seized as evidence and sitting in storage rooms for an extended amount of time following the disposition of a case or have been taken from individuals who are not legally allowed to own firearms.

When law enforcement certifies the lawful owner of the firearms can not be found, they can be turned over for auction.

The proceeds from the auction can then be returned to the submitting agency for use.

Sixty-three federally licensed firearms dealers, including 26 new dealers, from six states registered to bid for the auction. Bidders were required to be a valid, licensed federal firearms dealer to participate in the auction.

The auction was not open to the general public.

Other participating agencies were the sheriff’s departments in Berkeley, Hardy, Monongalia, Raleigh and Randolph counties, police departments in Clarksburg, Elkins, Gilbert, Huntington, Moorefield and Wheeling, the Hardy County Drug Task Force, and the West Virginia State Police Bluefield, Bridgeport and Weston detachments.