HYDERABAD’ 24 Jan 2024 (PMI) The Special Operations Team (SOT), Malkajgiri, along with Malkajgiri Police in Rachakonda, apprehended two foreigners involved in a fake currency cheating racket. The seized property includes fake Rs. 500 notes amounting to Rs. 25,00,000, chemical substances, three mobile phones, one passport, and a small iron box. The arrested individuals were identified as Kombi Frank Sedrick, a 35-year-old from Cameroon residing in Sector-42 Gurgaon, Delhi, found to be illegally staying in India with an expired visa, and Goita Soungalo, a 52-year-old from Mali residing in Banaswadi, Bangalore. Meanwhile, the police are on the lookout for three other suspects – Rolex, David (the main organizer), and Joseph – who are considered key figures in the alleged illegal activities.
The case unfolded when a Zomato delivery boy, Vishnuvardhan Reddy, reported receiving a notification on WhatsApp inviting him to a ‘Verified Clone Credit Card’ group. The group administrator, David, claimed to possess bundles of black currency notes that could be transformed into genuine currency with a chemical solution.
A demo conducted by Rolex further convinced Reddy, who eventually fell victim to the scam, losing Rs. 5,00,000. Upon realizing the deception, Reddy reported the incident to the police, leading to the coordinated operation on January 23, 2024. The SOT, Malkajgiri team, and Malkajgiri Police successfully apprehended two foreigners at Anand Bagh, Malkajgiri, seizing fake currency, chemicals, mobile phones, a passport, and an iron box. The accused individuals were charged under Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 3(ii) (e) of the Foreigners Act at the Malkajgiri Police Station. The arrests were carried out under the direct supervision of Commissioner of Police, Rachakonda, G. Sudheer Babu and the guidance of DCP, SOT-I, R. Giridhar, with the collaboration of SOT-I and Malkajgiri police personnel.