Hulhumale’ mass inspection: 314 properties searched; 769 expats questioned

The authorities searched 314 properties and questioned 769 expatriate workers in the mass inspection held in Hulhumale’ by the Maldives Immigration Service as part of the ongoing crackdown on illegal migration.

Over 200 Immigration officers were involved in the mass inspection on Sunday, including the Controller General of Immigration Mohamed Shamman Waheed and Deputy Controller General of Immigration Ahmed Ashfan themselves.

They were also joined by officials from the police, Economic Ministry, Health Protection Agency (HPA), and the Maldives Food and Drug Authority (MFDA).

Between 04:00 pm and 06:00 pm, the teams covered businesses in Hulhumale’ Phase I and Hulhumale’ Phase II.

They searched 314 properties and questioned 769 expatriates.

28 expatriates, some of them fugitives, were detained by Immigration. The agency also served notices to another 165 expatriates to present themselves to the agency’s headquarters over visa issues.

Meanwhile, 92 employers, all of them Maldivians, were served with written warnings for illegal employment of expatriate workers.

Immigration warned that the employers will be penalized if they fail to follow the notice.

Immigration said it aims to conduct such mass inspections in a regular manner in order to provide a quick solution to the issue of illegal migration in Maldives, mitigate the impact of illegal migration on the country’s economy and social fabric, and enforce immigration laws.