Hyderabad police deport Ugandan woman over visa violation
HYDERABAD: The Hyderabad Narcotics Enforcement Wing (H-NEW) detained a 36-year-old Ugandan woman for allegedly staying in India illegally after her tourist visa expired and deported her to Uganda on August 12, police said.
The woman, identified as Nabanjja Sharon, was detained when police found her moving suspiciously in the Tolichowki police station limits. During questioning, she failed to provide satisfactory details about her residence in Hyderabad or produce valid documents, police said.
A detailed inquiry found that she did not have a valid visa and had continued to stay in India after the expiry of her visa, according to police.
Police said Sharon arrived in India through the Indira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi on an e-tourist visa on March 6, 2019. She later travelled to Bengaluru for employment and took up small jobs.
Police say woman established links with drug peddlers
According to the police, Sharon later came into contact with drug gangs with the intention of making easy money and living a luxurious life. She allegedly worked with drug peddlers in Bengaluru and Hyderabad and was involved in other illegal activities.
Her tourist visa expired on May 4, 2019, while her passport remains valid until November 23, 2027. Police said she had continued to stay in India illegally since the expiry of her visa and maintained links with drug peddlers.
H-NEW initiated deportation proceedings through the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) in Hyderabad to send her back to Uganda.
Her biometric details were checked and authorities confirmed that she had a valid passport but an expired tourist visa. The Hyderabad FRRO subsequently issued an exit permit and placed her on the blacklist, barring her from entering India in future.
H-NEW team takes woman to Mumbai for deportation
A flight ticket was booked for Sharon from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai on August 12, 2026.
The H-NEW team, led by inspector M Madhu Babu, took her to Mumbai on August 12 and deported her to Uganda. Police said she had been permanently blacklisted from entering India as part of measures to prevent activities considered harmful to national security.
Police urge public to report drug-related activities
H-NEW said some foreigners have recently been coming to India on medical, student, business and tourist visas and continuing to stay illegally even after their passports or visas expire. Police said some of them have been involved in the transportation, supply and sale of narcotic substances, resulting in increased drug use and addiction and causing serious consequences for families and society.
H-NEW appealed to people in Hyderabad not to fall prey to narcotic substances. It also urged parents to keep a close watch on their children’s movements and behaviour and take precautions to prevent them from falling into drug use.
Information about drug use or the sale of narcotics can be shared with the H-NEW team on 8712661601.
“Let us all work together to make Hyderabad a drug-free city,” H-NEW said.
Inspectors P Sreedhar and M Madhu Babu, along with H-NEW personnel, completed the operation and deportation process, police said.
The press release was issued by Vaibhav Raghunath Gaikwad, IPS, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Task Force/H-NEW/H-FAST, Hyderabad City.
