Nine African Nationals Detained in Navi Mumbai Combing Operation
The Anti-Narcotics Cell (ANC) of the Navi Mumbai crime branch detained nine African nationals on Thursday during a coordinated combing operation across various nodes, including Kharghar, Taloja, Ulwe, and Panvel. The group, which includes six men and three women, was taken into custody for overstaying visas and violating both the Passports Act and the Foreigners Act, in addition to being linked to existing drug-related cases.
According to Senior Inspector Sandeep Nigade of the Anti-Narcotics Cell, the operation targeted multiple locations to verify the documentation and legal status of foreign nationals living in the area. The investigation revealed various levels of legal violations among those detained.
Of the nine individuals detained, five reside in the Kharghar and Taloja areas. Senior Inspector Nigade confirmed that these five individuals already have cases registered against them under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act as well as the Passports Act.
Two other detained individuals, who were also residing in Kharghar and Taloja, face deportation. Officials established that they had been overstaying in India after their visas expired. The authorities have initiated the process to deport both individuals back to their native country of Nigeria.
The remaining two African nationals among the detained group were located in Ulwe and Panvel. Police investigations revealed that these two individuals had married Indian women.
In connection with the operation, local law enforcement has also taken action against property owners who leased accommodation to the foreign nationals. A First Information Report (FIR) was registered against two landlords under the Immigration and Foreigners Act. The landlords are accused of defying the law while renting their apartments to the African nationals.
The combing operation is part of ongoing efforts by the Navi Mumbai police to monitor visa compliance and address illegal residency within the city's residential nodes.
