Deported in '08, back in '09

Deported in '08, back in '09

Preetu Nair, TNN

PANAJI: In what can be termed as a major security lapse, Charles Wuzor, a Nigerian convicted under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances
Act and deported in 2008, was back in the country and attended a court hearing last Saturday.

This, despite the state government having written to the Union home and external affairs ministries to blacklist Wuzor, deny him visa
and ban his entry into the country.

The court roznama confirms Wuzor’s presence in the court of the judicial magistrate first class ‘D’ at Mapusa on April 18, 2009.

Sources in the government say this could probably be the first time a foreigner convicted in a narcotics case, deported and blacklisted by the state government, had returned within so short a period.

Alarmed by Wuzor’s return, the Goa police’s foreigner’s registration office is conducting an inquiry to verify his port of entry into India for further action.

“We have written to various police station in-charges to obtain information regarding his port of entry into India and his presence in Goa. Once this is done, we will inform the home department to take up the matter with the MEA and MHA,” sources in the FRO said.

Information available with the FRO states that Wuzor was served a deportation order on September 19, 2008 and he left the country the following day. “His passport expired in 2002, but he stayed on as there was a case pending against him. Once convicted on August 21, 2008, the Nigerian high commission in New Delhi issued temporary travel documents to ensure his exit from India,” said FRO sources.

“Wuzor left the country on September 20, 2008. Confirmation of his departure was obtained from CSI airport, Mumbai,” said sources.

Immediately thereafter, on September 23, the state under secretary (home) wrote to the MEA and MHA requesting them “to deny further entry/blacklist/ban entry into India and request the high commission of India at Lagos not to issue a visa to the Nigerian National.”

Wuzor was caught in possession of 169.6 gm of charas with a street value of Rs 16,900 in 2001 by personnel of the anti-narcotics cell at Arpora. Police had alleged that when they surrounded the car Wuzor was travelling in, he swallowed some drugs which were on the front passenger seat and he had to be taken to Goa Medical College and Hospital as he complained of giddiness.

However, the high court of Bombay at Goa observed, “As far as the swallowing of a substance is concerned, it may be stated at this very stage that the prosecution was unable to state as to what that substance was in spite of the accused having been sent to the GMC for examination.”

25 Apr 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition