Six irregular expats detained in raids on Male’ food establishments

Maldives Immigration detained six irregular expatriate workers on Sunday, in raids targeting food establishments in Male’ City.

According to Immigration, the raids were conducted by the taskforce as part of the ongoing joint operation targeting irregular expatriates.

On Sunday, the taskforce raided four food establishments in Male’, including cafes, teashops and takeaways.

Six expatriates were detained for working without a valid visa.

The agency did not disclose any details, including their gender or nationality.

ގަވާއިދާ ހިލާފަށް ރާއްޖޭގައި އުޅެމުންދާ ބިދޭސީންނަށް އަމާޒުކޮށް ޓާސްކް ފޯސްއިން ކުރިއަށްގެންދާ ރެއިޑު އޮޕަރޭޝަންތަކުގައި އިއްޔެ މާލޭގައި ހުރި ކެފޭ، ހޮޓާ އަދި ޓޭކްއަވޭ ފަދަ 4 ތަނެއް ވަނީ ބަލައި ފާސްކުރެވިފައި. އަދި މި ތަންތަނުގައި ސައްހަ ވިސާއެއް ނެތި މަސައްކަތް ކުރަމުންދިއަ 06… pic.twitter.com/BPUJBO7PVZ

— Maldives Immigration (@ImmigrationMV) April 7, 2025

The crackdown on irregular migration – launched in 2023 – has seen over 6,000 expatriates deported from the Maldives.

The Maldives also been running ‘Operation Kurangi’ – a program to collect the biometric data of all expatriates in the country. On March 19, the Homeland Security Ministry announced that they have connected the biometric data of over 100,000 expatriates, including 65,000 from the greater Male’ area, since the program was launched on May 2, 2024.

The government has said that the completion of ‘Kurangi’ will provide a permanent solution to irregular migration.