The Delhi Police have sent 130 foreign nationals for deportation after a month-long crackdown in Dwarka targeting illegal stays and drug trafficking, senior officials said on Monday. Most of those detained were from Nigeria, followed by the Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Ghana and several other African nations.
Police said these individuals were staying without valid visas, and many were linked to drug networks active in the district.
“This action was necessary. “Illegal migrants put pressure on local resources, and some of them are involved in drug trafficking,” said DCP Dwarka Ankit Singh. He added that police teams were told to act strictly and ensure that offenders do not slip away.
The operation was carried out through November. It was named “Operation Clean Sweep.” Police conducted door-to-door checks in Dabri, Bindapur, Uttam Nagar, Mohan Garden and Sector 23. Officers said they had received repeated complaints about foreigners staying in large numbers in rented houses without documents. Many landlords had not informed the police about tenants. Police said 25 landlords have been identified so far, and cases have been filed against them.
Teams from local police stations, the Anti-Narcotics Unit and the Operations Unit mapped neighbourhoods and prepared lists of suspected locations. Extra staff were deployed for the checks. Beat officers visited flats, basements and rented rooms where foreigners were suspected to be staying. Police said several tenants tried to flee when they saw uniformed teams in their lanes.
During the drive, 64 foreigners were detained in Dabri, 34 by the Anti-Narcotics Unit, 18 in Bindapur, eight in Uttam Nagar, three in Sector 23 and three in Mohan Garden.
They were found overstaying their visa period or living in India without any visa at all. Police said many had ignored earlier notices to leave the country.
After verification, all 130 were produced before the Foreigner Regional Registration Office (FRRO). The FRRO ordered their deportation. They were then sent to a detention centre to complete the process. Officers said the detainees include 87 from Nigeria, 11 from the Ivory Coast, 10 from Cameroon, 10 from Ghana, four from Senegal, three from Liberia, two from Sierra Leone, two from Uganda and one from Guinea. Several were women.
Police said some detainees were also found with small quantities of drugs. Officers registered 26 cases under the NDPS Act in November. Fourteen cases under the Foreigners Act were also registered. Investigators said drug peddlers were using rented flats in narrow lanes to avoid detection. Several of the foreign nationals had allegedly entered India illegally after their passports were seized in other states during older cases.
Police said drug traffickers used WhatsApp groups and coded messages to deliver narcotics. They mostly operated in evening hours near isolated roads, markets and metro pillars. DCP Singh said the district has been working to reduce drug supply chains and track overstaying foreigners for months. He added that the drive would continue.
Residents in Dabri, Bindapur and Mohan Garden had been demanding strict action for a long time. Many said they often saw unknown people entering and leaving certain flats at odd hours. They also complained about loud parties, frequent fights and late-night gatherings. Police said these complaints helped them narrow down suspicious locations.
The crackdown also targeted house owners who rented rooms without verifying documents. Police said these landlords ignored legal requirements and allowed tenants to stay without submitting their details. Officers registered cases against more than 25 such landlords. Many may face stricter action if they are found renting again without police verification.
DCP Singh said the district aims to break networks that depend on illegal stay and drug activity. He said strong enforcement will continue in the coming months. The district police expect more arrests as intelligence inputs improve. Officers said their goal is to ensure safer neighbourhoods and a strict check on overstaying foreigners.
