Dubai, Nov 16 (Emirates 24 x 7): Indian blue-collar workers in the Gulf are being warned not to carry strangers’ luggage or accept free air tickets when travelling home.

The warning comes following reports by Indian intelligence agencies that workers leaving the Gulf countries are being used as carriers of fake currency.

In several such recent cases, Indian workers, mostly from the state of Andhra Pradesh, have been arrested for carrying bags with fake currency notes.

According to sources, jobless men in the Gulf who have no means to buy air tickets to return home are being used to carry currency notes amounting to several millions.

Rasamayi, an organisation working for the welfare of workers from Andhra Pradesh in the Gulf, yesterday said the problem has been there for a while and there was an urgent need for an awareness campaign among these men.

“You cannot blame them. These men are desperate to return home and they do not even have money for the air ticket. They will make use of any help that comes their way,” said Kesari Trimurthulu, joint  secretary of Rasamayi.

“I myself have heard of several such cases. Most often, these people are not aware of the crime that they are committing,” he added.

According to an Indian media report quoting intelligence officers from Andhra Pradesh, poor labourers from the state’s districts like Nizamabad, Karimnagar and Kadapa are the main targets.

In return for free flight tickets, these men are asked to carry a suitcase containing perfumes and clothes, said a 'Times of India' report. Fake currency notes wrapped in carbon papers are hidden inside these suitcases. At times photo albums are packed with fake notes and sealed in polythene, the report added.

Bangladesh is used as the main route for taking fake currency into India. Last month, a woman travelling from Dubai with counterfeit Indian currency notes valued at several million rupees was arrested following a tip off at Dhaka airport.

When asked to comment on measures being taken to tackle the problem, the Indian consulate in Dubai had nothing to say.

However, Rasamayi said it plans to intensify awareness campaigns among workers from Andhra state. “People who are jobless and cannot afford to buy air tickets to return home should contact us. We work in co-ordination with the Indian Community Welfare Committee (ICWC) to help genuine cases,” said Trimurthulu.