A 2017 report by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development noted that recent studies estimated Mexico lost between 5% and 9% of its gross domestic product (GDP) to corruption annually.
Since taking office in December, Lopez Obrador, a leftist, has rolled out a string of welfare programmes for the poor and the elderly, cut salaries for top civil servants and said he is saving public money by eliminating corruption. He announced plans for a "Robin Hood" institute in April.
The Mexican president, who has shunned the often luxurious trappings of the country's wealthy elites and was known to drive through the capital in a modest white Volkswagen Jetta, added that two cars and an ambulance donated by the King of Jordan will go to the National Guard, a new security force.
One of the auctions will seek to sell three homes worth at least $7 million (R100m). The money will go towards a youth drug rehabilitation programme.
Not all the assets come from drug lords. Rodriguez said one of the homes up for auction belonged to a former politician.