BI arrests 8 overstaying aliens suspected to be drug syndicate members

The Bureau of Immigration (BI) has arrested eight overstaying foreign nationals in the National Capital Region (NCR) who are suspected to be members of an illegal drug syndicate.

According to Immigration Commissioner Jaime Morente, the foreign nationals were arrested by the BI fugitive search unit (FSU) in coordination with the National Bureau of Investigation Special Action Unit in Las Piñas and Makati City on Friday.

Morente said the foreign nationals will undergo deportation procedures for being undesirable due to involvement in illegal drugs.

“However, they will be criminally charged and prosecuted in court and, if convicted, they will have to first serve their sentences before we can deport them,” Morente said in a statement.

BI-FSU chief Rendel Ryan Sy said two are Yemeni nationals, three are Sudanese, one Djibouti national, one Sri Lankan, and one Kyrgyzstani national.

Yemeni nationals Ayesh Hazem Faiz Kadaf and Ayesh Hamzah Faiz Kadaf were arrested in their residence in Las Piñas.

The BI also arrested Djibouti national Mohamoud Mouhoumed Mohamed during the operation, who it said was in possession of dangerous drugs.

In a separate operation, Sudanese nationals Mohamed Alfaith Mohamed Saeed Osman, Eltayeb Ahmed Subahi Faris, and Angolan Ciel Do Carmo Miguel Domingos were arrested at their residence in Poblacion. They were also found in possession of dangerous drugs.

Sri Lankan Mohamed Silmy Sahabdeen and Kyrgyzstani national Anara Ruslanova, who were also arrested in the operation, were also caught with illegal drugs.

“We will not tolerate any foreign national destroying our communities by peddling illegal drugs. We are working closely with other government agencies to ensure that these criminals are deported and blacklisted from our country,” Morente said.

The foreign nationals are currently detained at the BI warden facility in Camp Bagong Diwa. — Joahna Lei Casilao/RSJ, GMA News