LAUNCH: Additional Secretary, Revenue, K. Mohandas, launching website of the Competent Authority on Monday. — Photo: K. V. Srinivasan

CHENNAI: The Competent Authority's office here, which is mandated with attachment of illegal assets amassed by drug traffickers and smugglers, launched its website on Monday to popularise its profile among officers and the public.

The Authority's jurisdiction covers Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Pondicherry and Lakshadweep.

It coordinates with and complements a host of agencies such as the Customs, Enforcement Directorate and Directorate of Revenue Intelligence.

Besides sensitising officers to the role and functions of the Authority, the website carries information on properties which come under forfeiture proceedings. Once a property is put under the forfeiture list, transactions of the land are null and void.

Individuals intending to buy land can look up the site for description of properties that have been put on notice or forfeited. Formally launching the website (www.cachennai.gov.in) , K. Mohandas, Additional Secretary, Revenue, said enforcement agencies dealing with offences of this nature would play a critical role in the future. Enforcement officers are trained to see the big picture whenever a drug peddler is nabbed with a few packets of cannabis or marijuana. Investigations run deep to unearth the money trail as well as the drug trafficking trail as "illegally amassed funds go into financing more crime."

He said India could not afford an escalation in drug trafficking as the illegal money could be used to finance terrorist activity.

"As an instrument for preventing criminals from using the proceeds of crime for any activity, the forfeiture of property proceedings have been effective," he said.

According to S. Ravi, who heads the Authority, the launch of the website also fulfilled the obligation to be a transparent agency in an era of increasing emphasis on the right to information.

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