10 arrested in crackdown on Addu prostitution rings

The police have made 10 arrests in a crackdown on prostitution rings in the southern city of Addu.

The operations were run in the districts of Hithadhoo and Maradhoo on Thursday, based on an intel report.

In Hithadhoo, the police raided a house and made five arrests; two Maldivian males and three Thai women.

They were presented before the Hithadhoo Magistrate Court for their remand hearing on Friday. The court ordered all five to be remanded in custody of the police for 14 days.

And in Maradhoo, the police raided an establishment that fronts as a spa. The police made another five arrests in the raid; a Maldivian male, an Indian male, a Myanmar male, and two Thai women.

They were presented before the Maradhoo Magistrate Court for their remand hearing on Friday. The court ordered for the Indian to be remanded in custody of the police for four days, and the others – to 10 days.

Both cases are under investigation by the police.

Last month, Home Minister Ali Ihusan said that the authorities have flagged 111 establishments involved in prostitution, from the Male’ area alone.