Foreigner with drug links held for overstaying

MANILA, Philippines —  A Kyrgyzstani woman suspected to have links with the West African Drug Syndicate was arrested in Makati on July 23 for overstaying, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) reported yesterday.

Anara Ruslanova, 29, was apprehended by the operatives of the BI’s fugitive search unit, who had a mission order, Commissioner Norman Tansingco said in a statement yesterday.

Ruslanova and seven other foreigners were arrested by the BI and the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) at a bar in Makati on June 20, 2022.

Ruslanova was investigated by the NBI regarding her knowledge of the activities of the West African syndicate, particularly its drug deals, in the country.

BI spokesperson Dana Sandoval said the NBI, which had custody of Ruslanova, was unable to prove the drug allegation against the foreigner and had to release her.

The BI, on the other hand, filed a deportation case against Ruslanova for being an undesirable and overstaying alien.

On Nov. 21, 2023, the BI board of commissioners ordered the foreigner’s deportation and her inclusion in the immigration blacklist, which banned her from reentering the Philippines.

BI records showed that Ruslanova arrived in the country on Oct. 4, 2018 and had not left the country. She had not applied for any type of visa to legally prolong her stay in the country.

She is being held at the BI custodial facility at Camp Bagong Diwa pending her deportation.