(HYDERABAD, INDIA) A Yemeni national was deported from Hyderabad this week after police and immigration authorities said he overstayed his student visa and lived illegally in the city’s Tolichowki area. Identified as Ahmed Salem Abdullah, also known as Ahmed Salem Fadaq, he was first detained by the Task Force (South-East) on suspicion of links to drug peddlers in Hyderabad and Rajasthan, and later sent back to Yemen following immigration verification. Officials said his case underscores stepped-up action against visa overstay and illegal residence involving foreign students in the city.
Arrest and deportation in Hyderabad
According to local authorities, Abdullah’s detention came amid a wider drive by Hyderabad police to clamp down on cross-border drug networks and people living without valid documents. Police said the man did not have a current student visa at the time of his detention, which led to coordination with immigration for removal procedures.
After checks confirmed he had no valid permission to remain in India, he was deported through official channels. Police described the removal as the result of routine immigration verification — confirming identity, checking status, and clearing travel for return to the home country.
Parallel case in Agra
The Hyderabad case mirrors a parallel enforcement action in Agra, where another Yemeni national, identified as Zaidan Omar Mohammed Al Syed, was arrested for allegedly overstaying his visa for nearly nine years.
Key dates and facts:
– Entered India on a student visa valid from November 29, 2015, to May 28, 2018.
– Continued to remain in India after the visa expiry in May 2018.
– Passport valid until August 9, 2025, but police emphasized a valid passport does not authorize stay without a valid visa or permission.
– He was sent to jail by court order, and authorities notified the Yemeni embassy in Delhi to begin deportation proceedings.
H-NEW’s role and broader enforcement since 2022
Hyderabad police’s Narcotics Enforcement Wing (H-NEW) has led several such actions since 2022, targeting foreigners accused of illegal stay and drug-related offenses.
Highlights:
– Multiple foreign nationals have been deported for lacking valid documents.
– Several arrests involved synthetic drug trafficking and distribution.
– Two Yemenis were among 33 foreign nationals linked to a synthetic drug network, according to police statements.
Investigators say the unit has intensified coordination with immigration officials to refer and remove cases where visas have long expired.
Enforcement priorities and process
While the two Yemeni cases are separate, officers say they reflect the same enforcement priorities:
– Stopping overstays that turn into long-term illegal presence.
– Cutting links between organized drug activity and foreign nationals without current visas.
Typical procedure described by officials:
1. Identification and detention by police (often during criminal probes).
2. Immigration verification to confirm identity and status.
3. Coordination with immigration authorities and the person’s embassy.
4. Detention or jail pending court orders where required.
5. Issuance of travel documents/clearances and deportation through official channels.
“A valid passport alone does not authorize a stay; travelers still need a valid visa or other permission,” officials noted in discussing the Agra case.
Community impact and reactions
Tolichowki, home to many international students, has seen concern among residents about routine document checks. Affected students and residents say the renewed checks have created anxiety, especially for those waiting on delayed paperwork or trying to correct status problems.
Police response and guidance:
– Authorities insist the focus is on people with clear violations, especially those who entered on study permissions but failed to maintain their status.
– Officers urge foreign students to keep copies of valid visas and to seek timely extensions to avoid falling out of status.
– For official information about entry and stay requirements, India’s Bureau of Immigration provides guidance: https://boi.gov.in
Administrative coordination with embassies
Police in Hyderabad say the current approach combines enforcement with embassy outreach, ensuring removals are coordinated through official channels. In both the Hyderabad and Agra matters, authorities said embassies were either involved or informed to facilitate travel documents and return arrangements.
Officers argue this cooperation speeds up the process for cases where people have no valid visas and no grounds to remain, especially when they are also suspected of links to crime.
Patterns and concerns observed by H-NEW
H-NEW’s record since 2022 shows overlapping issues:
– Several foreigners initially arrived on student visas, failed to renew or change their status, and later appeared in criminal probes.
– Many such individuals surface as couriers or small-scale distributors in drug networks.
– The combination of visa overstay and criminal allegations often leads to swift immigration action.
Police emphasize the legal consequences:
– Staying after a visa expires can lead to detention, jail pending court orders, and deportation.
– Long-term overstays, particularly those spanning years as in the Agra case, typically result in detention while travel documents and clearances are arranged.
Current status and final notes
- In Hyderabad, Abdullah was unable to show a current student visa or any other valid documents; after identity and citizenship checks he was placed on a removal track and deported to Yemen. There was no immediate information about further criminal charges after his departure.
- In Agra, Al Syed remains in custody following a court order while the Yemeni embassy in Delhi is being coordinated with to advance deportation procedures.
The twin actions again spotlight how a Yemeni national (or any foreign national) can be removed from India if found without valid status, and how police and immigration agencies share information when criminal suspicions are present. Hyderabad’s H-NEW continues to coordinate with immigration officers to ensure people who lack valid documents are referred for action.
Key takeaway: If a foreign citizen’s visa has expired and there is no current authorization to stay, authorities may detain and deport the person—especially when other legal concerns, such as links to drug-related activity, are involved.
This Article in a Nutshell
Hyderabad police detained and deported Yemeni national Ahmed Salem Abdullah after immigration checks found he had overstayed a student visa and was suspected of links to drug activity. The case parallels an Agra arrest of Zaidan Al Syed, accused of overstaying nearly nine years. Since 2022 H-NEW has stepped up coordination with immigration authorities to remove foreigners lacking valid visas, especially where criminal probes reveal drug-related involvement. Authorities urge students to keep visas current and use official channels for extensions.
