Hyderabad Police Crackdown: 49 Foreigners Identified, 12 Deported
Hyderabad Police have identified 49 foreign nationals for visa violations, uncovering drug use, counterfeit currency, and illegal hospital intermediary schemes.
The Hyderabad City Police have launched a massive operation to track down and identify foreign nationals who are overstaying their visas or violating immigration laws in India. Through a coordinated effort involving the Special Branch–Foreigners Monitoring Cell, the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO), and local law enforcement, authorities have already identified 49 individuals for various regulatory violations.
Since the special joint search operation commenced on August 31, the police have been conducting intensive verification drives across the city. As of the latest reports, 12 of the identified individuals have already been deported to their home countries, while the remaining are being processed for removal in coordination with relevant authorities.
Widespread Violations Across City Jurisdictions
The crackdown has seen significant activity across several key police station jurisdictions. The breakdown of identified foreign nationals is as follows:
- Tolichowki Police Station: 30 individuals
- Langar House Police Station: 6 individuals
- Mehdipatnam Police Station: 6 individuals
- Rajendra Nagar Police Station: 3 individuals
- Banjara Hills Police Station: 2 individuals
- Saifabad Police Station: 1 individual
- Gudimalkapur Police Station: 1 individual
Beyond Immigration: Drugs, Counterfeit Currency, and Scams
The investigation has revealed that many of these violations extend far beyond simple overstaying. During field-level enquiries, the Hyderabad Police uncovered several serious criminal activities linked to the foreign nationals in question.
Fraud and Counterfeit Money: Authorities discovered instances of alleged fraudulent activities, including the use of counterfeit currency and schemes designed to cheat the general public.
Hospital Intermediary Scams: In a sophisticated exploitation of the healthcare system, certain foreign nationals who entered India on student visas were found to be working illegally as translators or intermediaries for foreign patients. These individuals were allegedly collecting service charges from patients and, in some instances, receiving commissions of approximately 15 per cent of the total hospital bill.
Drug Possession and Abuse: The crackdown also brought drug-related offenses to light. In one specific instance, 250 grams of ganja were recovered from a foreign national. In another case, a person was found in possession of Alprazolam tablets mixed into cough syrup for intoxicating purposes. During verification in the Rajendra Nagar area, three nationals from South Sudan—who had been overstaying since 2018, 2023, and 2025—tested positive for cannabis during drug screening tests.
Prostitution-Related Activities: The police also identified certain women involved in alleged prostitution-related activities. This included a Kenyan national who had entered the country on a tourist visa but overstayed and was allegedly involved in such activities.
Police Warning to Foreign Nationals
The Hyderabad City Police have emphasized that while foreign nationals with valid passports, visas, and proper documentation are welcome to stay in India, they must strictly adhere to their visa conditions and all applicable Indian laws.
"Illegal stay, visa violations, and unlawful activities will not be permitted," the police stated, reiterating that appropriate legal action will be taken against anyone found violating the law.