Additional 16 illegal migrants detained from four places

An additional 16 illegal migrants were detained on Thursday as part of a joint operation by Maldives Immigration and Maldives Police Service in a crackdown against illegal migration in the Maldives.

Police, on Friday, said they searched four places as part of the operation on Thursday, adding that 16 illegal migrants were brought under Immigration’s custody during the search.

Immigration has previously stressed it is now making arrangements to deport the detained foreigners back to their home countries without granting them any further opportunities to remain in the Maldives.

A total of 2,013 illegal migrants detained under the operation were deported between November 17 to July 11. Many detained also remain in custody.

While the expat population in the Maldives is significantly high with their subsequent involvement in several industries, the issue of illegal immigrants and businesses illegally owned by expatriates is an alarming concern.

Ministry of Homeland Security earlier launched ‘Operation Kurangi’, a nationwide effort to collect the biometric data of immigrants to record their information in a registry, thereby identifying the total immigrant population in the country.

Immigration has also introduced a portal under the name ‘Immigration Watch’ which can be used to instantly report illegal migrants and Immigration-related cases. The reports can also be made anonymously.