Hyderabad Police Crack Down on Illegal Foreign Nationals Living on Expired Visas

Hyderabad police have launched a special operation targeting foreign nationals living illegally in the city after their visa periods expired. City police commissioner Sajjanar stated that 49 foreign nationals have been identified since August 31 during joint searches conducted by local police, the Special Branch, the Foreigners Regional Registration Office, and the IT cell. These individuals have been moved to special holding centers, with 12 of them already sent back to their home countries while the deportation process continues for the rest. Officials warned that property owners must check passports and visas before renting houses, hostels, hotels, guest houses, or service apartments to foreigners, and report anyone with expired visas or fake documents immediately. These rules apply even to OCI, Nepal, and Bhutan citizens.

Illegal Activities

Police raids revealed that many of these foreign nationals constantly shift locations every month to avoid detection and are living in expensive areas where greedy owners rent out properties without checking details. Authorities found that some individuals are circulating fake currency and getting involved in cyber and financial crimes. Police seized 250 grams of marijuana from one person, while three South Sudan nationals in Rajendranagar tested positive for marijuana during drug screening. A Kenyan woman who came on a tourist visa was found running prostitution activities. Investigators also discovered a foreigner mixing alprazolam tablets into cough syrup for intoxication. Furthermore, some foreign nationals are working as illegal translators and middlemen for foreign patients in hospitals, taking up to a 15 percent commission on hospital bills.

Context

Visa overstays and illegal stays by foreign nationals pose significant law enforcement and security challenges for urban police departments across major Indian cities. Authorities frequently use joint task forces and special registration checks to track down undocumented residents and curb illegal commercial activities.