BI probing Indian nationals’ reported links to drug trade

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) is looking into the reported involvement of some Indian nationals in the illegal drugs trade.

Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente has instructed lawyer Sherwin Pascua, BI intelligence division chief, to dispatch a team of BI operatives to areas in the provinces where the police have arrested Indian nationals peddling illegal drugs.

“We are alarmed over these reports of Indians allegedly engaged in the illegal drug business. Aliens engaged in such nefarious activities should be apprehended and punished for violating our laws,” Morente said.

It was learned that in compliance with Morente’s directive, a team of BI operatives was recently dispatched to Iloilo to investigate and conduct follow-up operations on the arrest of three Indian nationals by elements of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA).

The team reportedly found that all three Indians, identified as Amandeep Tangri, Joginder Pal Tangri and Tehal Singh, have been illegally staying in the country as their visas have already expired a long time ago.

Morente said the Indians, who are in the PDEA’s custody, will be charged with immigration law violations before the BI but stressed that they will not be deported until they have served their sentences, if convicted by the courts.

It was also gathered that in the operation conducted jointly by the BI with elements of the Criminal Investigation and Detection Group and Region 7 Provincial Police Office, some 31 Indian nationals were invited for verification of their immigration status.