Police to prepare database on foreigners living in Delhi

September 9, 2008

To tighten the noose on those running drug rackets

Narcotics Branch has asked districts’ police for particulars of foreigners living in the city

‘They can change residence, forge documents but cannot change their appearance so easily’

NEW DELHI: In order to tighten its grip on unscrupulous foreign nationals running international drug trafficking syndicates from the Capital, the Narcotics Branch of the Delhi Police has requested the districts’ police for particulars of foreigners living in different parts of the city.

It is learnt that the Narcotics Branch has requested for details of foreign nationals including their photographs that can be obtained through tenant verification, which is a mandatory procedure in the Capital.

The decision has been taken in the wake of recent cases of drug trafficking allegedly involving mostly African nationals.

“Through this exercise we want to develop a database that would be accessed by any enforcement agency for verification of the antecedents of suspects. The availability of photographs would help us identify or locate any particular person more easily. Otherwise, on several occasions we found that we had names of the suspects but did not have any tangible information that could lead us to their whereabouts. They can change their residence, forge their passports and other documents but cannot change their appearance so easily. Photographs will help us alert the agencies at airports, railway stations and ports,” said a police officer.

Not long ago, Narcotics Control Bureau Zonal Director (Delhi) Sandeep Mittal had in a meeting briefed Police Commissioner Y.S. Dadwal about the drug trafficking scenario in the city and discussed issues relating to alleged involvement of several African nationals in the murky business. Mr. Mittal urged Mr. Dadwal to help create a database on African nationals living in rent in different parts of the Capital.

“They live in areas like Uttam Nagar, Tilak Nagar, Vikaspuri, Janakpuri, Nehru Vihar, Arjun Nagar, South Extension and Malviya Nagar,” said an NCB official, adding that on several occasions Nigerian nationals had been found running drug trafficking rackets in connivance with locals. In fact, a few days ago the Special Cell of the Delhi police arrested three persons including a Nigerian national for allegedly smuggling heroin.

Mr. Mittal also urged the Police Commissioner to make a concerted effort to identify those overstaying in the country and get them deported. In many cases, the agency has found that the accused African nationals were living without a valid visa.