Nigerians Face Deportation from India Over Drug Allegations in Hyderabad
On Wednesday, July 23, 2025, Indian authorities detained two Nigerian nationals, Aful Clement, 29, and Lazarus Chinwenmeri Favour, 19, in Tolichowki, Hyderabad, for suspected drug-related activities and visa violations.
The Hyderabad Narcotics Enforcement Wing (H-NEW) made the arrests, and the duo now faces deportation to Nigeria due to their alleged involvement in drug peddling and illegal stay, raising concerns about national security.
Details of the Arrest
Aful Clement, also known as Aful David, entered India on a business visa to export clothes but overstayed after his visa expired in 2019. In 2022, he was arrested by Chandigarh police in a cheating case, serving six months in Model Jail, Chandigarh. After his release on bail, he lived in Delhi without legal employment before moving to Bengaluru in July 2025 to allegedly supply drugs with Lazarus Chinwenmeri Favour.
Lazarus, who arrived in India on a student visa to study science and technology, abandoned his studies and was found associating with drug peddlers. The pair was apprehended in Tolichowki after being spotted acting suspiciously. “While no drugs were recovered during their apprehension, authorities suspect they were involved in drug peddling,” officials noted, citing behavior that pointed to trafficking activities. “Their activities were deemed a threat to national security, prompting H-NEW to coordinate with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office to initiate their deportation.”
The arrests are part of a broader crackdown by H-NEW, which has detained 33 foreign nationals in Hyderabad over the past three years for drug-related offenses, with 19 already deported. Of the 4,375 foreign nationals in Telangana, 1,844 reside in Hyderabad, including 49 Nigerians, some of whom have been linked to drug rackets and cyber fraud.
Despite no narcotics being found on Clement and Favour, their visa irregularities – Clement’s expired visa and Favour’s deviation from his student visa purpose – prompted swift action. Lazarus’s visa remains valid until October 2025, but his alleged ties to drug networks have accelerated deportation proceedings.
This case highlights India’s intensified efforts to curb illegal immigration and drug trafficking, particularly in cities like Hyderabad, a hub for foreign nationals. The focus on Tolichowki as a hot-spot for such activities underscores the challenges of monitoring visa compliance and criminal networks. As deportation looms for Clement and Favour.
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