The government is reportedly struggling to eliminate the illegal foreign currency parallel market due to the involvement of some law enforcers in the business.
The Herald reports that there are some police officers who have resorted to being part-time money changers. Resultantly, they upset government efforts to curb the crisis as they would alert other money changers of possible raids.
Some money dealers who spoke to the Herald revealed that they were no longer afraid of these cops. Actually, they welcome their presence as they assist them with vital information. One vendor said:
We feel comfortable having them around because they protect us.
If their colleagues are coming for raids, we get a tip-off and disappear for a while until they pass.
They are part of us and they always mind their own businesses.
In times of raids, these officers only have to produce their service identity cards for them to be spared. Another vendor said:
At times they are taken to the police cells together with us, only to be released in a few minutes.
At times, they alert us when their colleagues are coming for raids.
He confirmed being arrested on several encounters and only paid bribes to those who would have arrested him.
At times we negotiate with officers who would have arrested us so that we do not go to prison or sleep in cells.
If our negotiations fail, we end up paying $30 fine, which is insignificant considering the nature of our business.
More: The Herald