Indian student faces deportation for drug

VIGAN CITY, Ilocos Sur (Feb. 16) – An Indian student, who was earlier arrested for the alleged illegal drug trade here, will be deported to his country, an Immigration official said.

Police described the suspect as 21, a second-year medical student at University of Northern Philippines (UNP) and a native of Gujarat, India.

The suspect was arrested inside his boarding house during a drug buy-bust operation.

Lawmen seized from him a pack of marijuana dried leaves, drug paraphernalia, and the marked money used by the undercover agent.

Paul Versoza, the Immigration officer, said he already recommended a deportation case against the suspect before the Office of the Immigration Commissioner.

He also requested said office to issue a hold-departure order against Parmar to prevent him from fleeing after posting bail.

The suspect will face separate criminal and deportation cases, it was learned.

Dr. Mario Obrero, UNP vice president of Office of the Student Affairs, said that the incident was an isolated case.

He, however, said that the UNP will regularly interact with all foreign students studying in the university to avoid similar incidents in the future. (tri-media report)