Mumbai:
As foreign visitors just enter into the Mumbai city, they are cheated of foreign currency and threatened of arrest if they protest.
Around 17 people owing allegiance to two gangs are actively involved in changing currency in their cars.
The con men waiting outside the airport lure foreign visitors of a good exchange rate for US dollars and those who fall into the trap are escorted to a waiting tourist car.
On a tip-off, MiD DAY spent a night at the International Airport to get a first-hand feel of the con job. Here's what they found out:
As a foreigner streams out, members of a gang get into action. One of them sidles up to the unsuspecting foreigner and asks if s/he needs hotel accommodation just to break the ice.
Some sport an illegal card identifying them as members of an unauthorised tourist service.
Many are attired in blazers and strut around with a walkie-talkie in hand. They also speak fluent English.
The foreigner is then given the lure of a "good" exchange rate for US dollars and those who fall into the trap are escorted by the conman to a waiting 'tourist' car.
Once the foreigner gets into the car, the person asks for dollars. The local currency given to the foreigner is just half the amount promised. (For $100 taken, the foreigner only gets the worth of $50 in Indian Rupees).
Any protests are greeted with a threat to hand over the foreigner to the police. The reason cited is that currency exchange with them is illegal.
To keep the Central Industrial Security Force personnel deployed at the airport at bay, the gang members stand outside the airport with a placard, which bears a fictitious passenger's name.
Cops involved?
One of the two gangs operates under the name 'Shinu'.
On noticing the MiD DAY team, the gang members approached this reporter. "Altaf and gang are doing business in connivance with the police," a member of the Shinu gang said.
"Their mediator is one Ayub who is closely associated with a senior police officer posted at the airport region. That's the reason they manage to keep police interference at bay."
Altaf, a member of the other gang, said, "We operate on a small-time basis and we are not involved in foreign currency exchange. For the last 15 years, we have been bribing officials at Sahar police station to do this."
Around 17 people owing allegiance to two gangs are actively involved in changing currency in their cars.
The con men waiting outside the airport lure foreign visitors of a good exchange rate for US dollars and those who fall into the trap are escorted to a waiting tourist car.
On a tip-off, MiD DAY spent a night at the International Airport to get a first-hand feel of the con job. Here's what they found out:
As a foreigner streams out, members of a gang get into action. One of them sidles up to the unsuspecting foreigner and asks if s/he needs hotel accommodation just to break the ice.
Some sport an illegal card identifying them as members of an unauthorised tourist service.
Many are attired in blazers and strut around with a walkie-talkie in hand. They also speak fluent English.
The foreigner is then given the lure of a "good" exchange rate for US dollars and those who fall into the trap are escorted by the conman to a waiting 'tourist' car.
Once the foreigner gets into the car, the person asks for dollars. The local currency given to the foreigner is just half the amount promised. (For $100 taken, the foreigner only gets the worth of $50 in Indian Rupees).
Any protests are greeted with a threat to hand over the foreigner to the police. The reason cited is that currency exchange with them is illegal.
To keep the Central Industrial Security Force personnel deployed at the airport at bay, the gang members stand outside the airport with a placard, which bears a fictitious passenger's name.
Cops involved?
One of the two gangs operates under the name 'Shinu'.
On noticing the MiD DAY team, the gang members approached this reporter. "Altaf and gang are doing business in connivance with the police," a member of the Shinu gang said.
"Their mediator is one Ayub who is closely associated with a senior police officer posted at the airport region. That's the reason they manage to keep police interference at bay."
Altaf, a member of the other gang, said, "We operate on a small-time basis and we are not involved in foreign currency exchange. For the last 15 years, we have been bribing officials at Sahar police station to do this."
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
