Bangalore, May 17: African nationals are repeatedly landing in police custody on drug peddling and cyber fraud charges over the past three years . This has forced city police to think of seeking the external affairs ministry's help to get the habitual offenders deported .
Police have booked a Nigerian under the Goonda Act for committing offences repeatedly , incarcerating him for at least one year without any bail provision . About 25 Africans figure in city police records , and at least five are repeated offenders . Additional commissioner of police (law and order ) T Suneel Kumar said they will write to the MEA, seeking its intervention to deport repeat offenders .
"It's becoming impossible to control these African nationals as they indulge in drug peddling and cyber frauds . Many of them continue to live in the country even after their visas have expired ," he pointed out.
A senior police officer said 13 African nationals are absconding after being given bail . "They arefrom Nigeria , Ghana and Kenya . All are drug peddlers . After getting bail , they have gone missing and are now declared absconding warrantees ." African nationals who figure in criminal incidents can't speak Hindi or the local language though they have lived here for years , slowing the pace of investigation . "They tend to be non-cooperative ," a senior officer said . "Many come to India with forged passports . Neither do their embassies accept them nor can we keep them here as they are not Indians ."
Police want habitual offenders to be deported
The Crimes
African nationals are mostly involved in
Drug peddling:
They sell cocaine, heroin, brown sugar and other types of narcotics. Those arrested tell police that their bosses operate out of Mumbai or Delhi. But cops have failed to track the kingpins.
Cyber fraud:
Many African nationals are involved in email-cheating cases. Their modus operandi is like this: They send mass emails congratulating the receiver on winning a lot of foreign money in a lottery. They also send across mails stating that a multi-billionaire met with an accident and is on death bed. Hence, the rich man has bequeathed his estate to the mail receiver. There are many who fall for this. The culprits manage to get the victims' money even before they realize what's happening. The list of victims consist of policemen and advocates.
WHAT THEY DID
2009
Three persons in police net for drug peddling. Two are from Kenya and one from Ghana.
2010
Six arrested again on drug-peddling charges. Two each were from Kenya and Nigeria, while one each was from Ghana and Ivory Coast.
2011
Eight Nigerians arrested for alleged drug peddling. Police say five persons escaped.
2012
(till April) Two Africans, including one Nigerian, nabbed for drug peddling.
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