The crackdown follows an order issued by the government of Central Equatoria State banning the sale of hard currency on the black market.
Addressing reporters at a press conference in Juba, IGP Marol said the exercises which will be carried out soon will continue until the value of the local currency stabilizes on the market.
“We are going to continue with the crackdown, and we are going to investigate those selling dollars in the black market,” said Marol during a press conference held in Juba.
Moral said the move was aimed at addressing the fluctuation of the local currency against the US dollar.
“My message today, the dollar went up again, we have the same mandate, and we have to capture people selling the dollar,” he said.
Moral said suspects arrested will be investigated and prosecuted according to the law.
“I want to assure you we are going to continue with the work, investigate those who are selling dollars in the black market until the date the governor will cancel the order,” he said.
“We have to go with the interest of the public, we will stop the operation when the dollar comes down, I am asking the people selling dollars in the black market to come down instead of us interfering with them.”
Recently, Dr. James Alic Garang, Governor of the Bank of South Sudan, announced the end of the 45-day grace period in early April, provided by the banking industry regulator to all informal currency traders to obtain licenses for their operations.
The police crackdown is targeting small traders who trade foreign currency in the open along busy streets and markets, a practice that has endured since South Sudan won independence from neighboring Sudan in 2011.