Kharar's ‘foreign' clusters under NCB watch after drug bust
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Chandigarh: A day after the UT police dismantled an international drug syndicate operating in the Tricity, arresting three foreign nationals staying illegally in the country — with two of them living in Kharar, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Chandigarh Zonal Unit and Punjab Police jointly conducted a search operation in the Kharar area of Mohali district on Sunday to clamp down on drug trafficking and overstaying foreign nationals.
Among the arrested individuals, Imoru Damian (31), a Nigerian national, and Toufe Yousouf (30) from Cape Town, South Africa stayed in a rented flat in Kharar. Police seized significant quantities of cocaine and amphetamine, along with a Honda City car used in the operation.
The NCB-police joint operation specifically targeted rented accommodations near a private university and Gharuan village, areas flagged for developing into clusters of foreign nationals—mainly from African countries.
During the drive, teams inspected around 20 flats and paying guest accommodations (PGs), checking the visa and passport details of foreign residents. Officials said the operation was a preventive measure to address concerns about "ghettoisation" and the potential misuse of rented premises by foreign nationals involved in illegal activities, particularly drug trade.
"No foreign national was found residing without valid documentation during this operation," said an NCB official.
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"However, the exercise was crucial in reinforcing vigilance and disrupting the possibility of illegal hubs taking root in these areas."
Property owners and PG operators were sensitised about their responsibility to verify tenant credentials and report any suspicious activity. Police urged landlords to remain alert and not turn a blind eye to potential law violations on their premises.
Officials added that the operation was part of a broader strategy to prevent the formation of problematic enclaves, ensure compliance with immigration norms, and strengthen the fight against drug networks operating in the region.
The NCB and Punjab Police emphasised that such joint actions would continue in a sustained manner, reinforcing their commitment to a "Drug-Free India" and safeguarding national security through proactive enforcement and community engagement.
The trio arrested over the past few days operated in isolation, with handlers based abroad coordinating the network, cops claimed. The syndicate sourced drugs from Delhi and targeted youth in the Tricity, they added. Investigators also uncovered a disturbing link to a network of Nigerian students in Kharar, allegedly exploited for drug distribution.
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