Indian authorities have deported Nigerian national Victor Obasi for illegal residence and alleged involvement in drug trafficking.
According to the Times of India, Victor, who lived in New Delhi, was arrested by the Hyderabad Narcotics Enforcement Wing in the Tolichowki area late last month after being seen moving under suspicious circumstances. His passport and visa had expired years ago, and he was unable to provide valid documentation during questioning.
Following his arrest, deportation procedures were initiated in coordination with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office in Hyderabad and the Nigerian High Commission in New Delhi. Since his travel documents were no longer valid, the Nigerian mission issued an Emergency Travel Document, while Indian authorities provided an exit permit. Victor was subsequently flown back to Lagos from Rajiv Gandhi International Airport on January 13, 2026.
Reports indicate that Victor originally entered India on a tourist visa via Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport on December 31, 2011. He later established businesses, including a cloth export trade and a restaurant in Delhi, but continued to reside in the country illegally after his visa expired.
Investigations revealed that he had come into contact with suspected drug traffickers over the years, and his activities were considered a potential threat to national security. Authorities said the deportation was necessary to prevent him from engaging in further unlawful activity.
This case followed the arrest of another Nigerian national, Chidi Ezeh, who was caught with 150 grams of MDMA in a separate intelligence-led operation in Hyderabad. Ezeh had also overstayed his visa and was linked to a wider drug syndicate operating across Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and other cities.
Victor was described as a first-time offender who initially entered India on a tourist visa and later ran businesses before being implicated in the current case. His illegal status made him liable for immediate removal after preliminary investigations.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Vaibhav Gaikwad said Ezeh would be charged under India’s Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, and investigations into the broader network are ongoing. He added that intelligence-driven operations aim to dismantle transnational drug networks and prevent further criminal activity.
Hyderabad police reaffirmed their commitment to tackling illegal residency, drug trafficking, and organized crime, urging citizens to provide credible information and report suspicious activities.
PUNCH Metro noted that this is the third drug-related case involving Nigerians in India this month, following earlier arrests in Delhi and other cities where cocaine and synthetic drugs were seized from suspected foreign-linked syndicates.
