BI probes overstaying Indian nationals tagged in illegal drug trade

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has announced it would investigate overstaying Indian nationals who were arrested by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) for alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade.

BI Commissioner Jaime Morente on Thursday said the BI intelligence division discovered that three Indian nationals who were arrested by PDEA operatives in Iloilo in 2017 have been illegally staying in the country.

Morente said a team of BI operatives was dispatched to Iloilo to investigate and conduct follow-up operations on their arrests. They were identified as Amandeep Tangri, Joginder Pal Tangri and Tehal Singh.

“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 in a statement.

The BI chief said they would be charged with immigration law violations before the BI but stressed they would not be deported until they have served their sentences, if convicted by the courts. /je