Team Herald
PANJIM: At least five Nigerians lodged in the Detention Centre are facing trial for drug trafficking against them.
The Detention-cum-Deportation Centre at Mapusa has 20 foreigners including 12 males and 8 females waiting to be deported back to their home country. Information sourced from Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) states that out of 12 male foreigners, 10 hail from Nigeria of which five are facing trial in drug-related offences.
“The five drug trafficking under-trials need to be present in person to attend the trial. Once they are out of the country, it is unlikely they will return for the trial. As such, these foreign nationals could be allowed to stay back till completion of the trial,” an official said.
Sources said that the under-trials did not possess their original passport or visas but based on photo-copies of these documents, the FRRO communicated to concerned authorities in Mumbai and Delhi for verification of their identity.
They were later issued passports as any under-trial foreigner needs to possess valid passport and visa.
If convicted, these Nigerians could be blacklisted from further entry into the country.
The other foreigners lodged in the Detention Centre are for offences such as overstaying. The overstaying foreign nationals, on conviction by the court, are barred from re-entry into the country for around three years.
