Delhi: 260 Africans Detained in Crackdown on Drug Trade
Operation Clean Sweep Delhi Police Targets Drug Trafficking and Illegal Foreign Nationals in Major Delhi Crackdown
In a sweeping crackdown to curb drug trafficking and illegal residence of foreign nationals in the national capital, the Delhi Police launched “Operation Clean Sweep Delhi Police”, detaining 260 people from African nations during coordinated raids across multiple districts.
According to officials, the extensive operation — carried out on Sunday in Dwarka, West, and Outer districts — marks one of the largest joint enforcement actions in recent months. The initiative, led by senior officers of the Western Range, was aimed at rooting out narcotic networks and identifying overstaying or undocumented foreign nationals.
“The operation was part of an ongoing campaign to eliminate the drug menace and ensure action against foreign nationals staying without valid documentation,” said Joint Commissioner of Police (Western Range) Jatin Narwal.
Delhi: Massive District-Wide Operation
The well-coordinated effort saw participation from 30 special teams, comprising four ACPs, 20 inspectors, and over 600 personnel. The simultaneous raids covered areas such as Dwarka, Bindapur, Dabri, Uttam Nagar, Mohan Garden, Tilak Nagar, and Nihal Vihar.
In Dwarka district alone, 210 individuals, including women and children from African countries, were detained for allegedly overstaying their visas or possessing narcotic substances. In the West district, 45 more were apprehended, while the Outer district police detained 21 others.
Several of the individuals were reportedly found with expired or forged visas, and drug recoveries were made from some of the detainees, which also included six Indian nationals.
Legal Action and Verification Drive
The police confirmed that 26 cases have been registered under the NDPS Act and 14 under the Foreigners Act, with document verification and further investigations still underway.
Authorities have also initiated legal proceedings against over 25 landlords who allegedly rented out properties to foreign nationals without proper verification, in violation of local laws.
“We are taking strict action not only against those residing illegally but also against landlords who overlook mandatory tenant verification,” said JCP Narwal.
During the massive verification drive, tensions briefly escalated when a quarrel broke out among some of the detainees, leading to preventive detention of 49 individuals, all of whom were African nationals.
Delhi: Countries and Demographics
Preliminary reports suggest that the detained individuals include 210 men, 68 women, nine juveniles, and six Indian nationals. The majority are said to be from Nigeria, followed by nationals from Ivory Coast, Liberia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Cameroon, Uganda, Kenya, and Zimbabwe.
The crackdown was supervised by DCP Dwarka Ankit Singh, DCP West Darade Sharad Bhaskar, and DCP Outer Sachin Sharma, ensuring smooth coordination between districts and law enforcement units.
Continuing Vigilance Against Illegal Stay
The Delhi Police emphasized that Operation Clean Sweep Delhi Police will not be a one-time initiative but a sustained campaign to track and deport all illegally overstaying foreign nationals. The effort also seeks to dismantle drug supply chains operating through organized networks in the city.
“This operation is part of our broader strategy to ensure community safety, lawful residence, and a zero-tolerance policy toward drugs and crime,” Narwal added.