Indian authorities have sent a Nigerian man back to his home country after discovering he had been living there illegally for years and was suspected of engaging in unlawful activities, including drug trafficking.
From Businessman to Deportation Order
The individual, identified as Obasi James Victor, aged 38, was repatriated to Nigeria in the early hours of Tuesday, January 13, 2026. The action was carried out by the Hyderabad Narcotic Enforcement Wing (H-NEW) based on credible information about his illegal status and alleged activities.
According to Deputy Commissioner of Police Vaibhav Gaikwad of H-NEW, Victor first entered India on December 31, 2011. He arrived at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport using a tourist visa.
His initial venture in the country was a cloth export business targeting the Nigerian market. He later diversified, establishing a restaurant in Delhi named 'William African Restaurant.' Victor had been living in the Indian capital with his family.
Expired Documents and Alleged Criminal Links
Police investigations revealed a critical lapse: Victor's passport and visa had expired several years prior. Despite this, he continued to reside in India without valid documentation, putting him in the category of an illegal immigrant.
During his period of illegal stay, authorities allege that Victor came into contact with drug peddlers. He subsequently became a person of interest, suspected of involvement in drug trafficking and other unlawful acts.
The case reached a tipping point last month when he was detected in the Tolichowki area of Hyderabad. He was found moving under circumstances that raised suspicion. When questioned by officials, he could not produce any valid travel or residential documents. He also failed to give a satisfactory explanation for his presence in Hyderabad.
The Deportation Process
During interrogation, Victor admitted that he did not possess a valid passport or visa and had overstayed in India long after his documents expired. Following this admission, H-NEW, in coordination with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) in Hyderabad, initiated formal deportation proceedings.
Since his original travel documents were no longer valid, the authorities secured an Emergency Travel Document from the Nigerian High Commission. An exit permit was also obtained from the FRRO in Hyderabad.
Final arrangements saw Victor transported from the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport to Lagos, Nigeria. DCP Gaikwad stated that the deportation was necessary to prevent the foreign national from engaging in activities deemed detrimental to India's national security.
