Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai

Mumbai, May 2: Anti-smuggling authorities, under the Smuggling and Foreign Exchange Manipulators Act (Safema), is unable to handle the huge pile up of cases including clearing confiscated properties of smugglers, drug dealers and terrorists and gangsters, due to lack of skilled hands.

As per TOI report, there are still more than 100 cases pending in four states. The agency has to collect details of confiscated properties and appear before the tribunal to fight cases in high courts and in the Supreme Court.

Sources said to TOI that the Mumbai office of Safema has a staff of just 10 personnel, including a competent authority (CA), an additional commissioner, three inspecting officers, an inspector, two assistants and two lower division clerks.

"Shortage of staff is badly affecting work. We are required to get details of confiscated properties, coordinate with other agencies, issue showcause notices to the owner of the confiscated properties and if he/she goes to the tribunal and court, we have to follow the case there as well. Only if we have adequate manpower can we put up a strong legal defence and ensure we win the case," added an officer, as reported in TOI.

Safema is currently working hard to auction the remaining 14 properties of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim in Maharashtra.