Hawala operators back with a bang

Kozhikode: After a brief lull, the hawala operators are back with a bang. An expected boon in the real estate segment in the state and a pro-investment stand by the centre government are possible causes for the revival of the hawala agents in the state. Crores of liquid cash have been transported in to the state and also to other states through hawala channels. A more disturbing trend is now emerging that many college students, especially those from Malappuram and Kozhikode are now engaged in transport and the rivalry between these gangs are also feeding the quotation gangs in these areas.

The case that the Coimbatore police stumbled upon was just the tip of an iceberg. In that case two college students, both aged below 22, were carrying Rs.70 lakh in cash in their vehicle and they were waylaid by another gang and robbed. Coimbatore police told DC that the youths were college students and are suspected to be hawala agents.

“In recent times, the hawala agencies had turned to transport of gold as the cash flow was less. But now the cash flow has begun and the channels have been revived. Many police officials have clear information regarding this but are scared to act as most of the time the cash in circulation have political connections. Customs and police also had clear information regarding hawala transactions to some political parties during the last Lok Sabha elections,” a senior police official told Deccan Chronicle.

There are several gangs that have been traditionally hawala agents. These gangs are based in places like Vengara, Edappal, in Malappuram, Koduvally in Kozhikode and Chavakkad in Trissur. “Apart from these gangs there also a good number of Maharashtrians, especially Marwaris working as hawala agents. They work independently. Most of the hawala transactions go unreported because of its secretive nature and a wider network,” an Enforcement official said.

Kozhikode city commissioner of police, A V George said that such agents are not very active in the cities for fear of being tracked. “Such agents select the border areas of our district as they do not want to get in to the eyes of the police. Our intelligence unit is keeping track of such movements in the city and we have not come across any cases hawala transaction or rivalry between such groups,” George said.