Goa Authorities Remove Hundreds of Foreign Nationals Over Five-Year Period
Goa police have maintained strict vigilance on foreign nationals residing in the state without proper authorization. Over the last five years, authorities deported an average of five foreigners each month for staying without valid travel documents. This enforcement drive resulted in the removal of 340 individuals from various countries.
Minors and Diverse Nationalities Among Those Deported
The deportation figures include sixteen minors who were found living in Goa without appropriate documentation. Foreign nationals from multiple countries faced removal actions. The list includes citizens from Russia, Bangladesh, Uganda, Nigeria, Britain, Argentina, Ukraine, Belarus, and Mauritius.
Police Action Against Accommodation Providers
Goa police registered twenty-five cases against owners of guest houses and service apartments. These cases targeted proprietors who failed to provide required details about foreign guests staying at their premises. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed that police conducted systematic checks across various accommodation types.
Officers inspected hotels, guest houses, private residences, and service apartments through beat staff from local police stations. They specifically targeted properties that provided lodging to foreign nationals.
Systematic Monitoring of Overstaying Foreigners
The Foreigners Regional Registration Office maintains a regular monitoring system for foreigners who exceed their permitted stay in Goa. Each month, the FRRO circulates a list of overstaying individuals to district Superintendents of Police for appropriate action.
District SPs then conduct verification drives based on these lists. During these operations, police apprehend foreigners who have remained in Goa beyond their authorized period. The crime branch also conducts separate verification drives targeting overstaying foreigners.
Narcotics Cases Reveal Troubling Pattern
Investigations into narcotics cases involving foreign nationals uncovered a disturbing trend. Many foreigners without valid travel documents engaged in alleged illegal activities to prolong their stay in Goa. Over the past six and a half years, Goa police arrested 149 foreigners for suspected involvement in the narcotics trade.
A senior police officer explained that criminal cases provided these individuals with what he called "blanket permission" to remain in Goa. During interrogations, accused persons revealed they deliberately pleaded guilty in overstaying cases while facing trial in narcotics matters. This strategy allowed them to continue staying in Goa pending trial outcomes.
Detention Centre Established for Overstayers
Goa police established a dedicated detention centre at Mapusa to house foreigners involved in illegal activities who also overstayed their visas. Police officials confirmed they lodge such individuals at this facility while initiating deportation procedures through the FRRO.
The deportation process sometimes faces delays due to document verification requirements. Police noted that confirming the authenticity of travel documents and coordinating with foreign embassies can extend the time needed to complete deportations.
