24 Nigerians, including 7 women, held for illegal stay in joint Thane-Navi Mumbai police op

Twenty-four Nigerian nationals, including seven women and minors, were detained in Thane district during a joint police operation following confidential inputs on illegal foreign residents.

A total of 24 Nigerian nationals, including seven women, were detained from Dombivali in Thane district during a combing operation on Saturday, a police official said.

The operation was carried out in Khoni Palava area, Kalyan Zone Deputy Commissioner of Police Atul Zende said at a press conference.

''The operation was jointly executed by the police of Thane and Navi Mumbai following confidential inputs regarding foreign nationals residing illegally in the region. A total of 24 Nigerian nationals, comprising 13 men, seven women, three minor boys and one minor girl, were taken into custody,'' Zende said.

Their legal documents like passports and visas are being checked in detail and appropriate legal action will be initiated based on the findings, he added.

The breakthrough comes as part of a broader, two-year coordinated effort to track down absconding accused linked to an ongoing investigation at Vashi police station in Navi Mumbai, he said.

The operation saw the deployment of 25 officers and 71 personnel from Manpada police station along with those from police stations in Navi Mumbai, he said.

The operation was carried out under the direct guidance of Thane Police Commissioner Ashutosh Dumbare, the DCP informed.